Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Ante Rebic was the match-winner in the DFB Cup final on Saturday, scoring a brace in a 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich to help Niko Kovac end his reign as Eagles coach on a high note against his future employers.
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Bayern Munich 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Rebic (11′), 1-1 Lewandowski (53′), 1-2 Rebic (82′), 1-3 Gacinovic (90+6′)
If the big news prior to kick-off was the sight of Manuel Neuer on the substitutes’ bench for the first time following his lengthy injury, Bayern soon trained their focus to on-field matters and had the first chance of the game when Robert Lewandowski hit the crossbar with an early free-kick. However, it was Frankfurt who took the lead when Ante Rebic robbed James Rodriguez of possession in midfield, and played a one-two with Kevin-Prince Boateng before expertly drilling a low shot into the corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Bayern wasted a few good chances to equalise before eventually doing so early in the second half when Niklas Süle’s threaded pass released Joshua Kimmich down the right, and his cut-back into the middle was tucked home by Lewandowski. With the match seemingly heading for extra-time as the teams cancelled each other out, Rebic pounced once again late on, beating Süle to a long ball forward and placing a composed finish beyond Sven Ulreich. Bayern poured forward in search of an equaliser, allowing substitute Mijat Gacinovic to score a third with the last kick of the game following a breakaway to give Frankfurt their fifth DFB Cup triumph.
Man of the match:
Two chances, two goals. Rebic was absolutely clinical for Frankfurt, surgically slicing open Bayern’s defence at key moments of the game to pull off an unlikely triumph for the underdogs.
