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Lewandowski fires Bayern into German Cup final


Bangladeshpost
Published : 11 Jun 2020 07:48 PM | Updated : 02 Sep 2020 06:14 AM

Bayern Munich remain on course for the double after the Bundesliga leaders squeezed past Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in Wednesday's German Cup semi-final behind closed doors, with both teams supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, reports AFP.

Bayern's early goal by Ivan Perisic was cancelled out by a second-half equaliser from Frankfurt's Danny da Costa, who had only been on for three minutes at the Allianz Arena.

However, Robert Lewandowski settled the matter with the winner 16 minutes from time to claim his 45th goal this season in all competitions.

Bayern will face Bayer Leverkusen, who beat fourth-tier side Saarbruecken 3-0 on Tuesday, in the final at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on July 4.

"We didn't always make the right decisions in the area, we should have been three or four up at half-time, which would've made our lives much easier," admitted Bayern's Thomes Mueller, whose chip set up Perisic's opening goal.

"You could feel the tiredness from both teams in the second-half when it got close, the will was there and we defended well, especially against the long balls."

Hansi Flick-coached Bayern, who have a seven-point lead with four games left in the league, can wrap up an eighth consecutive Bundesliga title this weekend if they beat Borussia Moenchengladbach and second-placed Borussia Dortmund lose at strugglers Fortuna Duesseldorf.

However, Bayern will be without both Lewandowski and Mueller, who are both suspended.

"We need to rest up well and then go again on Saturday, the programme is punishing for all teams, so there is no whinging, but the tiredness is greater than the joy of reaching the final," added Mueller.

Eintracht wore playing shirts supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, while Bayern warmed up in T-shirts bearing the same anti-racism message.

It was the latest show of solidarity in German football following the death of George Floyd in the United States in late May.