Bayern beat Leverkusen to reach first German Cup final in six years
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich battled past hosts Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 with goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz to reach the German Cup final for the first time in six years.
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich battled past hosts Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 with goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz to reach the German Cup final for the first time in six years.
The hosts were no match for the Bavarians, who were fresh from securing the league title on Sunday and in control for much of the game. Bayern also travel to Paris St Germain next week for their Champions League semi-final first leg.
Leverkusen tried to stay competitive for about 20 minutes but then found themselves 1-0 down with Kane drilling in from close range in the 22nd minute for his seventh goal in the competition this season.
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The England international, who also leads the scorers' list in the Bundesliga, went close again in the 40th with a powerful shot that flew narrowly wide.
By halftime Bayern, without injured Serge Gnabry who will also miss the World Cup with an adductor muscle tear, had nine shots on goal to Leverkusen's zero.
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand is under pressure with his team also in danger of missing out on Champions League football next season. Yet his players became more aggressive after the break.
Nathan Tella tested Bayern's ManuelNeuer with a low drive in the 52nd minute but the keeper did well to palm it wide. The visitors, however, struck in stoppage time through Diaz to punch their ticket for the final. They will face the winner of Thursday's semi-final between VfB Stuttgart and Freiburg.
