Schalke outplay Leverkusen in German Cup final
Patrick Vignal
Schalke 04 upset Bayer Leverkusen's preparations for the Champions League final by fighting back from a goal down to outplay them 4-2 in the German Cup final on Saturday.
Leverkusen, who will challenge Real Madrid next Wednesday at Hampden Park in Glasgow, missed out on a trophy again just a week after finishing runners-up to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.
While Leverkusen added weight to their reputation as the nearly men of German soccer, holders Schalke lived up to their tag as cup specialists by lifting the trophy for the fourth time.
Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring from close range in the 27th minute for Leverkusen, who have not put their hands on any silverware since winning the German Cup for the first time in 1993.
Schalke equalised with a superb free kick from midfielder Joerg Boehme just before the break and then stepped up a gear with three goals in the second half.
Nigerian striker Victor Agali gave them the lead from a counter-attack in the 69th minute before veteran midfielder Andreas Moeller added another two minutes later.
Denmark striker Ebbe Sand put the issue beyond doubt with six minutes remaining and Leverkusen had given up hope when substitute Ulf Kirsten pulled one back one minute from time.
TENSE
The game was a tense affair marred by many fouls and both coaches had been sent to the stands by the referee for protesting outside the coaching zone when Agali received his marching orders for a violent gesture in added time.
Leverkusen were clearly the better side in the first half. They had already wasted a few chances and had just come close with a spectacular overhead effort from Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto that flew just wide when Berbatov put then in front.
The Bulgarian forward almost added another with a close range effort in the 44th minute.
Schalke showed very little until Boehme slotted the ball into the top corner with his beautifully carved set piece from the edge of he box seconds from the interval.
That was the turning point and Leverkusen collapsed in the second half.
Germany's Michael Ballack, usually their inspiration in midfield, lacked his usual sparkle while the absence of central defender and captain Jens Nowotny, sidelined with a knee injury that has ruled him out of the World Cup, was sorely felt.
There was plenty of emotion for Schalke's Huub Stevens, who was coaching the Gelsenkirchen club for the last time before moving on to Hertha Berlin.
The Dutchman has had a highly successful spell, taking the team all the way to the 1997 UEFA Cup and to last year's German Cup with a 2-0 final victory over little Union Berlin before bowing out in style on Saturday.
His Leverkusen counterpart Klaus Toppmoeller was left hoping for an upset against Real on Wednesday after his men, who have played brilliant football all season, again failed to hold their nerve when it mattered.
