Stuttgart earn Bayern final
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E-mail Xinhua, April 18, 2013
Stuttgart overcame Freiburg 2-1 in the southern derby of the DFB Pokal semi-finals thanks to the decider by Martin Harnik at the Mercedes Benz Arena on Wednesday.
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Martin Harnik celebrates his winner with Alexandru Maxim. |
Stuttgart secured their ticket for the German cup final against Bayern Munich, as goals by Arthur Boka and Martin Harnik were enough to smooth the way after ninety minutes.
The hosts staged a frenetic start and nearly grabbed the lead with five minutes into the match, but Martin Harnik squandered the chance one on one with Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann following a through ball.
The run on Freiburg's goal were rewarded with nine minutes into the match, as Stuttgart's Arthur Boka finished a low cross by Ibrahima Traore from 14 meters into the bottom right to break the deadlock.
Freiburg responded with their first chance of the game when Max Kruse set up with a pass into path for Jan Rosenthal, who beat onrushing Stuttgart keeper Sven Ulreich into the far post corner at the 13th minute.
Stuttgart again had an answer ready as Harnik headed home a cross by Christian Gentner at the back post to stun the visitors at the 29th minute.
However, Freiburg frenetically pressed for the equalizer but Stuttgart's well-positioned defence was able to wind down the clock to maintain their chances finishing a mediocre season with a final in Berlin.
"Stuttgart were the better team today. They deserved the victory as we were just not good enough," Freiburg coach Christian Streich said.
Thus Bayern Munich encounter Stuttgart on 1 June in Berlin Olympia stadium for the German Cup final.
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