Berlin, April 17 (IANS) Bayern Munich celebrated a 6-1 goal festival on home soil when they overcame Wolfsburg at the DFB Pokal or German Cup semifinals.
The Bavarians increased their chances to wrap up the second title of the season thanks to the goals by Mario Mandzukic, Arjen Robben, Xherdan Shaqiri and the hat-trick by substitute Mario Gomez. The “Wolves” were only able to score their consolation through Diego just before the break, reports Xinhua.
From the kick-off the German record champions took over to ensure the first chance of the match as Bastian Schweinsteiger pulled wide a cross at the near post, six minutes into the match. Twelve minutes later, Bayern broke the deadlock through Mandzukic, who utilised a square pass by Robben from the right wing to slot home into the top right to finish a counter-attack.
Wolfsburg nearly responded when they almost levelled minutes later but Makoto Hasebe failed to exploit Manuel Neuer’s deflection from very close range. Nonetheless, Bayern doubled the lead following a turnover inside Wolfsburg’s territory as Robben made use of Shaqiris through ball (34th minute).
Nine minutes later Wolfsburg’s Vieirinha almost reduced Bayern’s lead but his volley inside the box was saved by Bayern keeper Neuer. Wolfsburg’s Diego staged a better figure in front of Bayern’s danger zone when he unleashed a left footed hammer from 17 metres to reduce the lead to 2-1 just before the break.
With beginning of the second half, Bayern set things straight as Shaqiri restored their two-goal lead (50th) slotting home from 20 metres into the bottom right. The early set back took the wind out of Wolfsburg sails but things aggravated with the fielding of Bayern’s substitute striker Gomez (77th). Gomez came off the bench and wrapped up a hat-trick in nine minutes to make it 6-1.
In the other semifinal Wednesday, Stuttgart take on Freiburg to clinch a berth for the final in Berlin against Bayern Munich.
“Bayern staged a clinical performance as they benefited from our errors. However, the defeat is just too high for our liking,” Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking said.
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