DFB Pokal Cup Final 17/18: Frankfurt emerge winners

Eintracht Frankfurt win the DFB Pokal Cup for the 5th time

Eintracht coach Niko Kovac lifts the trophy with his team

Eintracht Frankfurt produced an attacking masterclass to defeat FC Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal Cup Final 17/18 by a score of 1:3. Losing 2:1 to Borussia Dortmund last year in the Finals, this victory will certainly be a welcome relief to all Frankfurt fans, and especially their coach Niko Kovac, who will join runners up FC Bayern in the 18/19 season. Kovac became the 5th player to win the DFB Cup both as a player and as a coach. Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes has this honor too, winning the Cup as a player with Monchengladbach, and as a coach with Bayern in their famous 2013 campaign.

As it happened

Bayern Munich walked into the Finals as the clear favorites. They had already beaten Frankfurt in both their home and away fixtures in the Bundesliga, a 1:0 win at home in the Allianz Arena and a 1:4 win at the Commerzbank-Arena. Bayern had a pretty strong lineup, with Lewandowski, Muller and Ribery leading the attack, James and Martinez in the midfield, and 2 formidable defenders in the form of Mats Hummels and Niklas Sule, who had come to replace the injured Jerome Boateng. Kevin Prince-Boateng, who had picked up a knock in their Semifinal match against Schalke, was fit once again and was present in Frakfurt's starting XI. Bayern's Manuel Neuer was present on the bench, who returned after an injury in last September.

Ante Rebic chips the ball over the Bayern keeper Sven Ulreich to make it 2:1

Bayern came tantalizingly close to open the scoring through a Lewandowski free kick, which hit the post and bounced off Frankfurt goalkeeper Hradecky's body. Frankfurt began to play a high line, putting a lot of pressure on the Bayern defense, leading them to make risky passes and immediately countering when an opportunity cropped up.

It didn't take long before Frankfurt fatally punished one such risky pass, and within 3 touches, Kevin Prince-Boateng set up Ante Rebic who opened the score for Frankfurt, just as he had did the year before against Dortmund. Bayern did find their groove afterwards, and after some time, an excellent backwards pass from Sule found the legs of Lewandowski, who tapped the ball past Hradecky to make it 1:1.

The game tensed up after that, with players from both teams making wild runs and rushing into challenges, leading to a lot of free kicks. Frankfurt took the lead once again as James slipped on the ball, allowing Rebic to take off once more. Even with Hummels and Sule running after him, Rebic managed to dodge them both, and chipped the ball over Sven Ulreich to make it 2:1. The goal was on the verge of being disallowed due to a potential hand ball, but the VAR cleared any doubts and the goal was given.

Bayern upped their ante after that. Ribery and David Alaba made some threatening crosses from the left side, one of them almost bouncing off Lewandowski into the Frankfurt net. A James corner headed by Hummels rattled the post, but posed no threat. Superb saves from Lucas Hradecky didn't allow Bayern to come on level terms again.

Stoppage time saw plenty of drama as a challenge from Omar Mascarell on Javi Martinez in the box lead to incensed Bayern players appealing for a penalty. Once again, VAR came to the rescue, and the penalty was ruled out for a corner. Sven Ulreich left his position to join the Bayern players in taking the corner. The cross however, bounced off Haller and substitute Gacinovic took no chances, running with the ball almost all alone to the other end, and casually slipped the ball in, making it 1:3. Soon, the full-time whistle blew, and the entire Frankfurt bench, the players and the fans burst into ecstacy. Coach Niko Kovac couldn't hold back tears of happiness. Bayern players continued to argue with the referees over their decisions.

It was an enthralling final, one like never before. After continued disappointments, Frankfurt had emerged German champions. It was their night, and they made it count.

Retiring Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes and soon-to-be Bayern coach Niko Kovac with the DFB Pokal Cup trophy