AFP
BERLIN, April 29
Bayern Munich’s hopes of winning the treble were ended Tuesday after losing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund on penalties as their German Cup semifinal finished 1-1 after extra-time.
Having been crowned German league champions on Sunday, Bayern missed all four of their spot-kicks to put Dortmund in the German Cup final on May 30.
Bayern - who did win the treble of European, Cup and Bundesliga titles in 2013 - can still win the Champions League and face Barcelona next Wednesday in the semifinal, first-leg.
Robert Lewandowski scored against his former employers to give Bayern a first-half lead before Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised 15 minutes from time to take the game into extra-time.The shoot-out got off to a dramatic start when Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso both slipped to fire Bayern’s first two penalties over the bar.
Ilkay Gundogan and Sebastian Kehl converted theirs for Dortmund before Mario Goetze had his effort saved by Borussia’s Australia goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak.
Dortmund captain Mats Hummels had his shot saved before Munich’s shot-stopper Manuel Neuer hit the cross bar with Bayern’s fourth spot-kick to send Borussia to Berlin.
Dortmund have reached their third cup final in four years and will face either VfL Wolfsburg or third-division leaders Arminia Bielefeld, who meet in Wednesday’s other semi-final.
Dortmund were reduced to ten men when replacement midfielder Kevin Kampel was dismissed in the second period of extra time for a second booking after being on the field just 25 minutes.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has a few concerns ahead of their Champions League semi-final as striker Robert Lewandowski appeared to finish the match with concussion.
And Dutch winger Arjen Robben lasted just 16 minutes of his comeback after more than a month out with torn stomach muscles.
Poland striker Lewandowski netted Munich’s 29th-minute opener when he finished off a counter-attack and then hit the cross-bar in the second half.
Lewandowski, who joined Bayern on a free transfer at the end of last season after refusing a new Borussia deal, slotted his shot through the legs of Dortmund defender Sokratis and Langerak.
The Polish hot-shot should have had a second when he hit the woodwork on 55 minutes before referee Peter Gagelmann missed a clear hand-ball from Dortmund defender Marcel Schmelzer.
Dortmund equalised when replacement Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired across goal and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s shot crossed the line before the ball was caught by Neuer on 75 minutes.
There was no need for goal-line technology to prove the goal was legitimate.
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger came on and had two headers saved in extra time by Socceroos goalkeeper Langerak, who like Neuer, had a superb game.
Langerak flattened Lewandowski in the final five minutes when he punched the ball clear, but collided with the striker’s head, which left Guardiola outraged and the Poland star groggy.
The Poland star was a bemused figure on the bench as the penalty shoot-out unfolded in front of his vacant eyes.
