DFB Pokal: Bayern Munich 0 Schalke 1

Schalke have earned a shock trip to the DFB Pokal Cup final with a 1-0 victory over defending champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

It was the second defeat for Bayern in the space of four days, following Saturday’s 3-1 loss at home to Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund.

That result left Bayern trailing by 16 points in the league title race, effectively ending their campaign, and the German champions saw another piece of silverware slip from their grasp at home to unfancied Schalke.

The win was sweet revenge for Schalke coach Felix Magath, who was sacked by Bayern in 2007 despite leading the club to the league and cup double in consecutive seasons.

Veteran forward Raul was the hero for the visitors, nodding past Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft in the 15th minute following a well-worked Jefferson Farfan corner.

Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger came close for Bayern in the second half, but the German giants could not find an equaliser and must now turn their attention to the Champions League if they are to have any chance of collecting a trophy this season.

Schalke, who have struggled for consistency in the top-flight and sit six points clear of the relegation zone, will face second-division club MSV Duisburg in the final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

Wed 2 March, 2011

DFB Pokal: Bayern Munich 0 Schalke 1

Schalke have earned a shock trip to the DFB Pokal Cup final with a 1-0 victory over defending champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

It was the second defeat for Bayern in the space of four days, following Saturday’s 3-1 loss at home to Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund.

That result left Bayern trailing by 16 points in the league title race, effectively ending their campaign, and the German champions saw another piece of silverware slip from their grasp at home to unfancied Schalke.

The win was sweet revenge for Schalke coach Felix Magath, who was sacked by Bayern in 2007 despite leading the club to the league and cup double in consecutive seasons.

Veteran forward Raul was the hero for the visitors, nodding past Bayern goalkeeper Thomas Kraft in the 15th minute following a well-worked Jefferson Farfan corner.

Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger came close for Bayern in the second half, but the German giants could not find an equaliser and must now turn their attention to the Champions League if they are to have any chance of collecting a trophy this season.

Schalke, who have struggled for consistency in the top-flight and sit six points clear of the relegation zone, will face second-division club MSV Duisburg in the final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

Wed 2 March, 2011

DFB Pokal: MSV Duisburg 2 Energie Cottbus 1

MSV Duisburg reached the final of the DFB Pokal Cup with a 2-1 win over Energie Cottbus, despite going down to 10 men on Tuesday.

Stefan Maierhofer put hosts MSV 1-0 ahead in the all-second division semi-final at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena.

Austrian forward Maierhofer took advantage of a failed clearance from Uwe Hunemeier to head home the opener 24 minutes into the match.

Serbian striker Srdjan Baljak made it 2-0 after the interval with a close-range finish after an excellent pass from Ivica Banovic.

MSV appeared to be cruising toward the final before Bruno Soares brought down Jules Remenick inside the area with 13 minutes remaining.

Nils Petersen converted the spot-kick and Soares received his marching orders, leaving MSV a man down and now just one goal ahead.

Hunemeier came inches away from atoning for his earlier error but he saw a goal-bound header cleared off the line by Olivier Veigneau in the 89th minute.

Jiahyi Shao also hit the post for Cottbus, but MSV held out to reach their first final since 1998.

They will play the winner of a semi-final between Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and Schalke 04, who meet on Wednesday.

Wed 2 March, 2011

DFB Pokal: Schalke 3 Nuremberg 2 (AET)

Teenager Julian Draxler scored in the last minute of extra-time to help Schalke beat Nuremburg 3-2 in the DFB Pokal Cup on Tuesday.

With the teams level at 2-2 and the quarter-final tie heading for penalties, 17-year-old substitute Draxler – on the pitch for just three minutes – struck his first goal for the club from outside the area to tear the roof off the Veltins-Arena.

Striker Julian Schieber put visitors Nuremburg ahead in the fourth minute of the match, but Schalke were level 10 minutes later through Mario Gavranovic.

Fullback Christian Pander, played in by Raul’s through-ball following a swift counter-attack, was able to deliver directly to the feet of Gavranovic.

The Swiss forward struck first time to beat Nuremburg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer and restore parity.

Raul had a goal chalked off before Schieber struck again, meeting a cross from strike partner Christian Eigler to restore the visitors’ advantage in the 32nd minute.

This time it took until just before the hour mark for Schalke to draw level, with Raul involved again.

The former Real Madrid captain set up Ivan Rakitic with a back-heel and the Croatian midfielder delivered a superb strike from the edge of the box to level the scores for the second time.

With Schalke pressing but unable to find the winner in regulation, the introduction of Draxler – making just his second appearance for the first team – proved a masterstroke from coach Felix Magath.

“You dream about such an experience your whole life,” Draxler said after his dramatic intervention.

“The coach told me we had to do something.”

And do something he did, smashing home the winning goal with seconds left to put Schalke into the semi-finals.

In Wednesday’s quarter-finals, Energie Cottbus host Hoffenheim, MSV Duisburg are at home to Kaiserslautern and holders Bayern Munich travel to Alemannia Aachen.

Wed 26 January, 2011

DFB Pokal: Schalke 3 Nuremberg 2 (AET)

Teenager Julian Draxler scored in the last minute of extra-time to help Schalke beat Nuremburg 3-2 in the DFB Pokal Cup on Tuesday.

With the teams level at 2-2 and the quarter-final tie heading for penalties, 17-year-old substitute Draxler – on the pitch for just three minutes – struck his first goal for the club from outside the area to tear the roof off the Veltins-Arena.

Striker Julian Schieber put visitors Nuremburg ahead in the fourth minute of the match, but Schalke were level 10 minutes later through Mario Gavranovic.

Fullback Christian Pander, played in by Raul’s through-ball following a swift counter-attack, was able to deliver directly to the feet of Gavranovic.

The Swiss forward struck first time to beat Nuremburg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer and restore parity.

Raul had a goal chalked off before Schieber struck again, meeting a cross from strike partner Christian Eigler to restore the visitors’ advantage in the 32nd minute.

This time it took until just before the hour mark for Schalke to draw level, with Raul involved again.

The former Real Madrid captain set up Ivan Rakitic with a back-heel and the Croatian midfielder delivered a superb strike from the edge of the box to level the scores for the second time.

With Schalke pressing but unable to find the winner in regulation, the introduction of Draxler – making just his second appearance for the first team – proved a masterstroke from coach Felix Magath.

“You dream about such an experience your whole life,” Draxler said after his dramatic intervention.

“The coach told me we had to do something.”

And do something he did, smashing home the winning goal with seconds left to put Schalke into the semi-finals.

In Wednesday’s quarter-finals, Energie Cottbus host Hoffenheim, MSV Duisburg are at home to Kaiserslautern and holders Bayern Munich travel to Alemannia Aachen.

Wed 26 January, 2011