 | 19.03.2008 The 63,000 who braved the snow flurries swirling round the Allianz Arena saw Bayern enjoy much the better of the play and the chances in a lively first half, but Franck Ribery headed wide with the goal at his mercy after just two minutes, and the visitors survived until the interval. The Wolves resisted until the hour mark, but a double whammy in the space of six minutes from Ribery and Miroslav Klose deservedly sent Bayern on the way to a 16th appearance in the DFB Cup final, where the Bavarians will go in search of a record 14th triumph. Four new faces Ottmar Hitzfeld made four changes to the side which fell to Cottbus at the weekend, restoring back-in-favour Martin Demichelis in place of Daniel van Buyten and bringing in Marcell Jansen for Philipp Lahm. Mark van Bommel returned from a Bundesliga suspension at Bastian Schweinsteiger's expense, with Lukas Podolski in the starting line-up for the banned Luca Toni. Breezy start After FIFA ref Herbert Fandel whistled play underway on a freezing evening in Munich, Wolves number one Diego Benaglio was much the busier of the two keepers in an action-packed opening phase. Van Bommel's free-kick caused pandemonium in the VfL box in the first move of the match, before Ribery squandered a glorious chance by heading wide from Lell's ball behind the defence just a minute later. Lucio denied Kahn twice saved from Wolves playmaker Marcelinho as the visitors fought to relieve the pressure, but Hamit Altintop twice came even closer at the other end, before Klose planted a firm header just wide. The Wolfsburg rearguard settled now and Bayern had to work harder for their chances, but it still took a fabulous reaction save from Benaglio to deny Lucio midway through the half, with Ribery arrowing a drive narrowly past the upright a short time later. Even stevens Christian Gentner sprayed dangerous balls across the face of Kahn's goal in the closing phase before the break, but Benaglio was again in action to beat away Van Bommel's drive in the final chance of the half. The contest was evenly-matched for the first ten minutes after the restart, but Bayern picked up the pace again and Benaglio hurled himself to push aside Klose's header. Franck and Miro on target The keeper was finally beaten on the hour when Klose expertly controlled Gentner's loose touch 30 yards from his own goal, slipping a neat pass through to Ribery for the France star to open the scoring despite Benaglio getting a hand to the ball. Klose himself doubled the advantage six minutes later after Jansen fed Podolski for a thunderous drive which Benaglio could only parry, the Bayern striker reacting first to the rebound and gleefully netting at the far post. Reds in driving seat Munich were firmly on top now and Podolski might well have extended the lead only to bullet a header wide from a Ze Roberto cross ten minutes from time, but the match had effectively run its course and the men in red were the team celebrating at the final whistle. Live match report for fcbayern.de by Chris Hamley Bayern Munich - VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 (H-T: 0-0)
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Thursday, March 20, 2008
Franck and Miro fire jubilant Reds to final
Bayern 2 VfL Wolfsburg 0
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