DFB Cup: Bayern Munich reaches the final against SGS Essen

Once they had warmed up on Easter Monday, it took the FC Bayern footballers quite a while. As compactly as SGS Essen defended in this semi-final of the DFB Cup, the Munich team hardly found any ways into the penalty area against the second-to-last team in the Bundesliga. This was initially reminiscent of Easter Sunday, when VfL Wolfsburg struggled so much a few days after losing the Champions League at Olympique Lyon that it was only in the penalty shoot-out that they were able to avoid an embarrassment against FC Carl Zeiss Jena, who were last in the league.

At the FC Bayern Campus stadium, the dynamic changed after 22 minutes when Bayern’s Ariana Caruso seemingly took the lead with a volley. The disappointment over this offside decision was then followed by four cheers – and the third place in the cup final in a row. The defending champions will meet the record winners in a duel between long-term rivals in Cologne on May 14th. “We want to see it through to the end,” said director Bianca Rech, “even if we have very, very tough weeks ahead of us.”

Now the defensive net seemed more open, Franziska Kett found a suitable route towards the goal on the left side, passed to Giulia Gwinn, who passed the ball on to Momoko Tanikawa with a backheel. With their opening goal after just under half an hour it was clear that there would be no repeat of a tough battle between favorite and underdog in the second semi-final. Essen didn’t dare to attack anymore until the break, but FC Bayern turned up the heat. In the 40th minute, Tanikawa took over the preparation of the 2-0 and delivered a precise cross to Pernille Harder. Luisa Palmen was the first to get to her header, but the SGS keeper was unable to hold on to the ball. Shortly afterwards, when the spectators and apparently also the Essen women were mentally already at the break, Edna Imade was able to increase the score to 3-0 with a header after a first blocked shot.

Coach José Barcala used the first minutes of the second half to make four changes. For the Spaniard it’s about saving as much energy as possible. After reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League against FC Barcelona and a clear lead in the Bundesliga, his team still has the titles in all three competitions – the big goal that they have been striving for for years. The changes didn’t bring the game to a standstill, Imade continued where she left off: In the 73rd minute, the 25-year-old made it 4-0 via Barbara Dunst herself before she scored another header.