After the German championship, Bayer Leverkusen received the DFB Cup once more. Bayer a minimum of secured the double.
Just three days after dropping the Europa League remaining towards Atalanta Bergamo (0-3), Bayer Leverkusen had another excuse to have fun within the final recreation of an extended season. In an exhilarating DFB Cup remaining, marred by pyrotechnics, Leverkusen received 1-0 (1-0) towards second division aspect Kaiserslautern.
Granit Xhaka scored the golden aim after 16 minutes. Bayer needed to survive greater than half-time after Odilon Kossounou was proven a yellow card simply earlier than the break (43′).
After 1993, it was the second DFB Cup victory for the Werkself, when coach Xabi Alonso’s aspect, who had been unbeaten German champions simply weeks earlier than, accomplished the double.
Here’s how the sport went:
Just earlier than the top of the primary half of the DFB Cup remaining between 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Bayer Leverkusen. The followers of the “Red Devils”, who’re already the property of their group all through this hall, celebrated as if the group of the second division took the lead towards the extremely acknowledged German champions.
It was not Lauterer who scored – however Leverkusen’s Kossounou, quite the opposite, FCK defender Boris Tomiak was very motivated within the center line. Referee Bastian Dankert had no alternative however to ship off the Ivorian, who had already been cautioned, with a yellow card – and there was a celebration within the stadium, which was stuffed with Palatinate followers. Hope: The finish of the sport, which till then was virtually a one-sided affair, is about to take one other flip.
In the final 42 minutes, Leverkusen had been so dominant that the 1-0 end result didn’t come near reflecting the steadiness of energy on the pitch. Coach’s group No matter how exhausting Lautern goalkeeper Julian Krahl stretched, he could not get a shot off.
Leverkusen misplaced the final punch
Xhaka’s aim, in the midst of the Berlin night solar that bathed the stadium in golden gentle, set the tone for the remainder of the sport. Just earlier than the opening aim, the busy Floria Wirtz tricked her manner into the second division group’s penalty space with a solo strike, however her low shot was not sturdy sufficient.
Despite their superiority, Leverkusen didn’t have the ability to assault, which is why the sport was at all times open when the rating was tight. Alejandro Grimaldo simply stood within the penalty space of Lauter, acquired the go and put the ball within the center, Krahl is out. Patrik Schick narrowly misses (26′). A minute later, it was Grimaldo himself who tried from the best aspect, his shot properly positioned went broad of the put up. Wirtz additionally bought concerned many times, however to guard the group of coach Friedhelm Funkel he resisted the strain.
Pyrotechnics ignited a number of instances
Then got here Kossounou’s dismissal earlier than the break. But the nice change that was anticipated didn’t occur. Although Kaiserslautern managed to equalize the second half, actual scoring probabilities had been uncommon for a very long time. In the center, Lautern’s Ragnar Ache tried a long-range shot, the primary massive take a look at of Leverkusen’s goalkeeper, Lukas Radecky (62′). But it turned more and more clear: Leverkusen was not wanted, Lautern may not accomplish that. The Red Devils supporters had been notably notable, utilizing pyrotechnics on a number of events and overlaying the stadium in smoke.
It was solely within the final stage that Bayer was once more very lively: Wirtz handed to a free Jeremie Frimpong within the penalty space of FCK, however he couldn’t end in entrance of Krahl (seventy fifth) and slipped a couple of minutes later within the main place. rank (82). So it stays 1-0. Even if the folks of Lauter had been cheering on the time.