The German champions from Bayern Munich followed VfL Wolfsburg into the final of the DFB Cup thanks to goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs and made their first dream final since 2018 perfect.
The Munich team won their semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 on penalties on Sunday (March 31, 2024). After 120 and 90 minutes the score was 1:1 (1:1).
The day before, the “Wolves” had made it to the final for the tenth time in a row with a 9-0 win against SGS Essen.
“Crazy as always against Frankfurt”
“It was a crazy game, as always against Frankfurt,” said Bayern coach Alexander Straus and added with regard to heroine Grohs: “She often plays exceptionally, she is fantastic. Not just with the penalties, her overall calmness, she is very good for a very long time.”
Bayern’s goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs saved three of Frankfurt’s four attempts. Pernille Harder converted the decisive penalty. Georgia Stanway had previously given Bayern an early lead with a hand penalty (4th), but Geraldine Reuteler (18th) quickly equalized with a fantastic volley for the SGE.
A clear 4-0 in the league
The signs are good for the Bayern women’s second cup win after 2012; in the league there was a 4-0 win in the prestigious duel against Wolfsburg a week ago. However, in the most recent final between the two teams in 2018, series winner Wolfsburg prevailed 3-2 on penalties.
The game got off to an exciting start in front of the new national coach Christian Wück, DFB sports director Nia Künzer and Bayern President Herbert Hainer. After three minutes, national player Sara Doorsoun clearly blocked a cross from Jovana Damnjanovic with her arm. Referee Riem Hussein overlooked the offense, but after a tip from the lines judge gave the penalty, which Stanway converted.
Reuteler equalizes with a dream goal
But the Frankfurt team reacted courageously and were strong in duels, Reuteler scored a Sunday shot from the edge of the penalty area to equalize.
Bayern missed taking the lead again with a header from Schüller (23′) and a shot from Damnjanovic (36′). Until the penalty shootout, neither Bayern nor Eintracht managed to score the winning goal.