German Cup. Kaiserslautern – Bayer 0:1. Nervous ending with a logical consequence

German Cup closing

Berlin, Olympic Stadium

Kaiserslautern – Bayer 0:1

Purpose: Xhaka 17

After the fiasco within the Europa League closing, Xabi Alonso’s males confronted a a lot less complicated German Cup closing. On the best way to the golden double, Leverkusen waited in opposition to Kaiserslautern, who had been near relegation from the 2nd Bundesliga and who had the second worst protection within the division. Plus, their finest goalscorer of the season, Ragnar Ahe, couldn’t begin for the Crimson Devils.

Nonetheless, even in such circumstances, Bayer discovered a method to complicate their lives. If Alonso was too intelligent with Atalanta and went out with out nominal forwards, right this moment he had to surrender his 9 due to taking part in within the minority. The intrigue on this seemingly useless confrontation was given by the sending off of Odilon Kossoun on the finish of the primary half.

Within the third minute, Bayer missed a uncommon counterattack by the opponent. Due to this, Kossun needed to, at the price of a yellow card, shoot down Redondo, who was about to run into the empty penalty space from the left flank. And simply earlier than the break, Kossunu stepped on Tomiak’s ankle out of the blue, giving Kaiserslautern a giant present.

After all, by that point Leverkusen was already main. Within the debut, Wirtz virtually opened the scoring after a brazen raid into the penalty space. Flo simply shook Zolinski, then Elvedi, after which he misplaced the duel to keeper Kral in shut fight. However after a few minutes the account was already opened. The outsider collectively stopped Wirtz on the approaches to the penalty space, however nobody stopped Xhaka from unloading his cannon from mid-range.

Earlier than the break, Xhaka might have added an help to his purpose, however after the wall with Granit, Grimaldo didn’t convert – the overthrown goalkeeper on the road was coated by the identical Tomiak. Kaiserslautern snapped again with Raschl’s nasty shot close to the put up on the very finish of the half.

Stanisic got here on as a substitute of Schick for the second half, returning to the 5-back formation, and Adli added dynamics in comparison with Hofmann. And the Crimson Devils’ essential attacking star, Ragnar Ahe, was able to emerge. And already within the first quarter of an hour, the ex-Eintracht ahead compelled Hradecki to work severely. Ahe shot twice from outdoors the penalty space into the purpose sixes. Within the first episode, the skilled Hradecki let the ball whistle calmly close to the bar, and within the second he stretched himself to the restrict and pulled the ball.

Nonetheless, it was troublesome for Kaiserslautern to qualify for greater than medium-range shelling. Within the second half, Bayer pragmatically switched to the center block and tightly blocked the middle. Leverkusen responded with a sluggish assault. Wirtz and Adly confirmed some fervor. Alonso eloquently caught the primary one in his arms in order that he wouldn’t run into an pointless counterattack.

That was the ending. Bayer, within the spirit of Spain 2010, performed the ball for a very long time for the sake of management. Utilizing possession of the ball as a defensive instrument. Uninteresting, atypical for Leverkusen, however efficient. 0:1. Bayer ends this loopy season with a well-deserved golden double. It’s only a pity that in each finals the “pharmacists” gave such lackluster performances, so removed from their finest examples.

Kaiserslautern: Kral – Zolinski (Tachi, 74), Elvedi, Tomiak, Puhač – Zimmer (Ture, 90+3)Ritter, Raschl (Clement, 83), Kaloch, Redondo (Opoku, 83) – Hanslick (Ache, 46)

Bayer: Gradecki – Frimpong (Tella, 90+4)Ta, Tapsoba, Kossunu, Grimaldo (Incapie, 85) – Xhaka, Andrich – Hofmann (Adli, 46), Wirtz (Glozek, 90+3) – Schick (Stanisic, 46)

Warnings: Elvedi 86, Klement 90+5 – Kossunu 3, Gradecki 90+6

Removing: Kossunu 44 (second yellow)