Nuremberg snatch Cup to deny Stuttgart German double

الأحد، 27 مايو 2007 - 12:56

كتب : Omar AbdelAziz

Nuremberg players celebrating with the trophy

Nuremberg grabbed an extra-time winner to beat Bundesliga champions Stuttgart 3-2 at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin and clinch the German Cup.

Danish midfielder Jan Kristiansen hit a 109th minute 30-yarder to give his side their first cup trophy in 45 years and deny Stuttgart their first ever German double.

Stuttgart took a 20th minute lead trough Brazilian striker Cacau who netted his 5th goal in the cup competition this season before being sent-off in the 31st minute.

Nuremberg equalized seven minutes later with a goal from striker Marek Mintal, whose celebrations were short-lived.

The Slovak ace lasted for just five minutes before being stretched off following a rash tackle from Fernando Meira.

Ironically, Stuttgart's goal scorer Cacau received his marching orders as well after he lashed out at Nuremberg defender Andreas Wolf to see red, as the game turned to tense mode with a total of nine cautions.

Nuremberg took advantage of the extra man and added a second goal when Marco Engelhardt headed home two minutes after the interval.

But the Bundesliga champions refused to surrender and leveled the score in the 57th minute from a Pavel Pardo spot kick after Nuremberg goalkeeper Raphael Schaefer brought down Mario Gomez.

However, Kristiansen had the final word with a ferocious drive that beat keeper Timo Hildebrand and earned Nuremberg their first cup title since 1962.

التعليقات