In the final! FCB women triumph in cup semi-final thriller against Frankfurt

• FCB Women celebrate reaching the final
• Game decided on penalties
• Grohs saves three penalties 

F-i-n-a-l-e, oh oh! Following a thrilling penalty shoot-out, FC Bayern Women are celebrating reaching the final of the DFB Cup! Coach Alexander Straus' team beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 (1-1, 1-1, 1-1) on penalties on Easter Sunday in a sold-out stadium at the FC Bayern Campus in front of 2,500 spectators. Georgia Stanway (4th minute) gave the Munich side a 1-0 lead from the spot with FC Bayern president Herbert Hainer watching on, before Geraldine Reuteler made it 1-1 on 18 minutes.

As neither team could find a winner in the second half nor in extra time, the game went to a penalty shoot-out. Maria Luisa Grohs sensationally saved three penalties and Pernille Harder converted the decisive one to make the final score 4-2. The Bayern Women are now back in the cup final for the first time in six years. They will face serial winners VfL Wolfsburg on Thursday, 9 May 2024, at 16:00 CEST in Cologne's Rhein-Energie-Stadion.

One change to the starting XI

Straus made one change to the starting XI compared to last weekend's commanding 4-0 win in the top-of-the-table clash against VfL Wolfsburg in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, with Samantha Kerr coming in for Sarah Zadrazil, who has suffered a torn muscle.

In addition to long-term injurees Weronika Zawistowska (cruciate ligament rupture), Cécilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir (dislocated patella) and Ana Maria Guzmán (knee injury), the Bayern Women were also missing Tainara (unwell) and Franziska Kett (muscular injury).

Two goals in an intense first half

The home team got off to the better start in the match, with the referee awarding the Reds a penalty following a handball in the box by Sara Doorsoun after just four minutes. Stanway stepped up to the spot and converted into the bottom left-hand corner to give the home side a 1-0 lead. The game then became quite hectic with chances at both ends. First, Nicole Anyomi narrowly failed to equalise from a tight angle in the 11th minute, before Reuteler scored seven minutes later. Following a cross from the left, the ball moved around before ending up at the feet of the midfieleder at the back, and she slammed it into the corner to make it 1-1.

At the other end, Lea Schüller (23) headed just over from a Klara Bühl cross. Jovana Damnjanović then had a go from distance in the 36th minute, but her shot skimmed past the post. The Bayern Women suffered another setback shortly before half-time, when Katharina Naschenweng had to be subbed off after picking up a knock. Magdalena Eriksson came off the bench to replace her.

Fiercely contested second half

It was a similar picture after the break. In the 50th minute, Giulia Gwinn found herself completely unmarked in space following a free-kick from the middle of the pitch, but her shot was too poorly placed and so didn't trouble goalkeeper Stina Johannes. Shortly afterwards, Grohs prevented another goal with an impressive save from Lara Prašnikar.

The Bayern Women then gradually took control and started to push for the lead again. First Gwinn (69') had a go from a tight angle, before captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir had an effort saved by Johannes following a corner (72'). The game remained all square after 90 minutes and went into extra time.

Harder with the winner

Just after the restart, substitute Sydney Lohmann (91) had a go from distance, but Johannes steered the ball round the post. As neither team could find the back of the net in the following 30 minutes, the game went to penalties. There, the very impressive Grohs was able to make three stops from Laura Freigang, Reuteler and Prašnikar. Lohmann, Eriksson and Harder all converted their kicks to send the Bayern Women through. Finale, here we come! 

Duisburg and Bremen after the international break

Following the cup semi-final, the women of the German record champions will depart for their respective national teams. The Women's Bundesliga will then resume on Sunday, 14 April with the Reds away at MSV Duisburg. Kick-off for the Matchday 18 game is at 18:30 CEST in the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena. The next home game at the FC Bayern Campus will be against SV Werder Bremen on Monday, 22 April at 19:30 CEST.