Borussia Dortmund are in the final of the DFB Cup! A 2-0 (2-0) home win over VfL Wolfsburg means that BVB are in the final for the sixth time (previous appearances being in 1963, 65, 89, 2008 and 2012). It will take place in Berlin’s Olympic stadium on May 17 when either Kaiserslautern or Bayern Munich will provide the opposition. In a tightly contested  match, goals from Mkhitaryan and Lewandowski saw BVB progress.

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Ex- Borussia man Perisic challenges Weidenfeller.

Dennis-Julian Gottschlich reporting

The SIGNAL IDUNA PARK was packed with 80,200 there to create a fantastic atmosphere worthy of a semi-final.  BVB were soon in front courtesy of a Mkhitaryan goal on 13 minutes with a Lewandowski strike doubling the lead shortly before the break. VfL had only a Naldo effort which struck the post to show for their efforts and also in the second period were unable to dent the home side lead with Luiz Gustavo also striking the woodwork.

The Scenario:

BVB arrived in the semi-final having dispatched Wilhelmshaven, 1860 Munich, Saarbrücken and Eintracht Frankfurt. They were the only team amongst the four semi-finalists yet to have conceded a goal. This was BVB’s fifth ‘home’ semi-final of ten in the German Cup and they had won the previous four. VfL Wolfsburg were looking to reach the Final for the first time since 1995 when they got there as a second division outfit. VfL had yet to be taken to extra time in this year’s competition.

Personnel Matters:

Jürgen Klopp was once again without the services of Bender, Blaszczykowki, Gündogan, Schmelzer and Subotic. Klopp opted to start with the same eleven which had played against VfL in the second half of the recent Bundesliga game and which had won the game. The only change from that team was the return of the then injured Weidenfeller for Langerak. Jojic and Piszczek came into the team with Aubameyang and Sahin starting on the bench. Wolfsburg coach Hecking needed to make do without first choice ‘keeper Begnalio and the suspended Rodriguez.

Tactics:

Both teams lined up in similar tactical formations settling into a 4-1-4-1 formation when in possession and switching to 4-2-3-1 when seeking to win the ball back high up in the opposition half of the field.

The Game and Analysis:

It was pretty much a normal start to the game for Borussia in this all important semi-final. Neither side had particularly taken the game by the scruff of the neck when, shortly before the 15 minute mark Reus sprinted down the right flank before turning an inviting ball back into the path of Mkhitaryan. The Armenian dragged the ball across his body before rifling a low shot inside the near post from the edge of the box which VfL ‘keeper Grün stretched in vain to stop nestling in the back of the net. With just thirteen minutes gone BVB were a goal up.

With the first step towards Berlin duly taken BVB knew that there was still a long way to go, and Wolfsburg reacted well to their early setback with de Bruyne charging through only to be denied when in on Weidenfeller by the home ‘keeper nerveless standing proud and deflecting the Belgian’s shot wide with his left leg. The Belgian was at it again just after the half-hour mark but happily for BVB his free-kick was just a tad too high and sailed beyond the corner of post and bar.

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Mkhitaryan's opener prompts satisfied celebrations.

Gradually, as the half progressed, BVB found themselves operating quite deep in their own half which meant Wolfsburg had difficulty finding space as they sought the equaliser. However, BVB were still an attacking force and in short bursts penned the away team in and around their own box such as when Großkreutz narrowly shot wide after fine work by Reus (who else?) and Mkhitaryan. At the other end a Malanda header almost brought Wolfsburg level but thumped against the post and wide.

Just a minute after this, Lewandowski showed him how to get the job done. Once again Reus was sent free wide, this time by Jojic, and once again, his pull-back was perfect for the Pole to hammer his 100th competitive goal for BVB high into the roof of the net from around the penalty spot. Remarkable to note that this goal marked the 12th occasion in the last 13 goals where Reus had either scored or laid on the goal.

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Olic outjumps Großkreutz on this occasion.

By half-time Wolfsburg had managed to chalk up a shot advantage of 9-4 over the home side but the home side went in ahead and also re-emerged the better team following the break. Within a minute of the re-start Jojic almost got on the end of a Mkhitaryan cross and not long after Lewandowski struck the outside of the post from an acute angle as he tried to find the onrushing Jojic in the box.

Meanwhile it wasn’t dull at the other end either as Arnold almost gave VfL hope but had to watch his goal-bound shot flick the head Sokratis and skim just wide; Weidenfeller would have had no chance. The same could be said for Grün at the other end when Lewandowski flicked on a Reus free-kick into the far corner only to have his celebrations cut short by the, quite correctly, assistant’s offside flag. On 58 minutes another fine Reus cross was met with a fierce Sokratis header which Grün did well to hold.

Gradually though, the game lost pace and rhythm. VfL continued to search for gaps in the home defence but were often forced to resort to long range efforts such as when Weidenfeller parried a fulminating Vierinha effort from 25 yards out on 71 minutes. Six minutes later, ex-Borussia man Perisic tested Weidenfeller from closer in, again to no avail and then on 75 minutes Malanda somehow fired over the bar from close in when even Weidenfeller would have been powerless had he put the shot on target.

It seemed the home ‘keeper had picked up some sort of injury because he passed goal-kicking duties to Hummels, but there was no sign of injury when with eight minutes to go he pulled off a miraculous double save to first thwart a point blank Malanda effort before deflecting Luiz Gustavo’s follow up onto the post. Wolfsburg threw everyone forward in an attempt to turn things round as the game drew to a close but were unable to fashion any more worthwhile chances and so the stadium allowed itself to sing songs serenading their heroes on the road to Berlin!

Teams & Goals

DFB Cup, Semi-final
BORUSSIA DORTMUND – VFL WOLFSBURG 2-0 (2-0)

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller  – Piszczek, Sokratis, Hummels, Durm – Kehl – Mkhitaryan, Jojic, Reus, Großkreutz – Lewandowski
VfL Wolfsburg: Grün – Träsch, Naldo, Knoche, Schäfer – Luiz Gustavo, Junior Malanda – de Bruyne, Arnold, Perisic – Olic
Substitutions: 72. Kirch for Mkhitaryan, 85. Aubameyang, 90.+3 Schieber for Reus - 63. Vieririnha for Arnold, 83. Caligiuri for Malanda
Goals: 1-0 Mkhitaryan (12., Reus), 2-0 Lewandowski (43., Reus)
Corners: 2-10 (HT 1-6), Chances: 6-9 (4-3)
Referee: Gräfe (Berlin), Yellow cards: Kehl, Aubameyang - Luiz Gustavo
Attendance: 80,200 (sold-out), Weather: clear, 8 degrees

Prospects:

FSV Mainz 05 are Borussia’s next opponents in the Bundesliga on Saturday (kick off 1530CET) in the Signal Iduna Park.