The dream cup final has been completed. Borussia Dortmund destroyed Hertha BSC’s cup final dreams and their last chance at silverware this season. BVB triumphed 3-0 over Hertha in the semi-final of the DFB Cup thanks to goals from Gonzalo Castro, Marco Reus and Henrich Mchitarjan. They will meet 17-time cup winners Bayern München in the final on 21st May.
Dortmund put in a strong performance following last week’s Europa Cup elimination at the hands of Liverpool (4-3). They outplayed the capital club for long periods of the match, even without their injured star-striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Hertha were disappointing in the “Match of the Year” and will have to extend their 37 year wait for a cup final appearance.
Borussia pressure from the off, Hertha pinned back
In front of 76,233 spectators in the sold-out Olympia Stadion, Borussia were on the front foot from the start. Marcel Schmelzer attacked down the left-wing and was followed by Salomon Kalou who later swapped sides. On the right-hand side Henrich Mchitarjan applied an enormous amount of pressure. BVB tried to stretch the game and use the flanks. Germany international Ilkay Gündogan watched on from the bench.
Borussia’s opener was created down the right-wing. Kagawa crossed to Reus whose attempt was blocked. The ball fell to Castro on the edge of the area though and he finished, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Reus almost doubled the advantage after good work from Schmelzer shortly after but the Germany international fired over the bar from twelve yards out.
Hertha get first chance before half time
Hertha were surprisingly cautious and had to deal without their playmaker Vladimir Darida, who wasn’t back to full match fitness after suffering a twisted knee. Jens Hegeler took his place in the centre of midfield, but struggled to give his side impetus going forward.
Dortmund went up a gear shortly before half time. Schmelzer and Reus both wasted chances to put BVB ahead though. Right before the break, ex-Leverkusen man Hegeler had Hertha’s first chance of the game as he shot on the turn, but Roman Bürki held onto his effort comfortably.
Borussia continued to apply pressure in the early stages of the second half. It was the hosts who had an opportunity in the 64th minute though, as Kalou lobbed the ball just wide of the far post after meeting a cross from the right flank. It didn’t take much longer for Dortmund to begin creating more chances, as ex-Hertha man Adrian Ramos forced a save from Rune Jarstein from point-blank range. Jarstein was needed again shortly after as well to deny Mchitarjan. BVB managed to double their lead in the 75th minute through Reus and Armenian international Mchitarjan made it 3-0 in the closing stages. In between, Gündogan was introduced and rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort.
The dream cup final has been completed. Borussia Dortmund destroyed Hertha BSC’s cup final dreams and their last chance at silverware this season. BVB triumphed 3-0 over Hertha in the semi-final of the DFB Cup thanks to goals from Gonzalo Castro, Marco Reus and Henrich Mchitarjan. They will meet 17-time cup winners Bayern München in the final on 21st May.
Dortmund put in a strong performance following last week’s Europa Cup elimination at the hands of Liverpool (4-3). They outplayed the capital club for long periods of the match, even without their injured star-striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Hertha were disappointing in the “Match of the Year” and will have to extend their 37 year wait for a cup final appearance.
Borussia pressure from the off, Hertha pinned back
In front of 76,233 spectators in the sold-out Olympia Stadion, Borussia were on the front foot from the start. Marcel Schmelzer attacked down the left-wing and was followed by Salomon Kalou who later swapped sides. On the right-hand side Henrich Mchitarjan applied an enormous amount of pressure. BVB tried to stretch the game and use the flanks. Germany international Ilkay Gündogan watched on from the bench.
Borussia’s opener was created down the right-wing. Kagawa crossed to Reus whose attempt was blocked. The ball fell to Castro on the edge of the area though and he finished, giving his team a 1-0 lead. Reus almost doubled the advantage after good work from Schmelzer shortly after but the Germany international fired over the bar from twelve yards out.
Hertha get first chance before half time
Hertha were surprisingly cautious and had to deal without their playmaker Vladimir Darida, who wasn’t back to full match fitness after suffering a twisted knee. Jens Hegeler took his place in the centre of midfield, but struggled to give his side impetus going forward.
Dortmund went up a gear shortly before half time. Schmelzer and Reus both wasted chances to put BVB ahead though. Right before the break, ex-Leverkusen man Hegeler had Hertha’s first chance of the game as he shot on the turn, but Roman Bürki held onto his effort comfortably.
Borussia continued to apply pressure in the early stages of the second half. It was the hosts who had an opportunity in the 64th minute though, as Kalou lobbed the ball just wide of the far post after meeting a cross from the right flank. It didn’t take much longer for Dortmund to begin creating more chances, as ex-Hertha man Adrian Ramos forced a save from Rune Jarstein from point-blank range. Jarstein was needed again shortly after as well to deny Mchitarjan. BVB managed to double their lead in the 75th minute through Reus and Armenian international Mchitarjan made it 3-0 in the closing stages. In between, Gündogan was introduced and rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort.
