SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2014 SPORTS GERMANY: Bayern’s Arjen Robben of the Netherlands holds the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after they won the German Soccer Cup Final between FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic Stadium Berlin. —AP Bayern clinch German Cup BERLIN: Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller son. Having also scored the late winner in the Bayern were forced into a late change Dortmund captain and goalkeeper Roman At the other end, Lewandowski cannoned scored extra-time goals as Bayern Munich won 2013 Champions League final against when Austria left-back David Alaba dropped Weidenfeller into early saves. his shot over the bar moments later. Both the German Cup with a 2-0 victory over rivals Dortmund at Wembley, Netherlands winger out with a stomach muscle injury and Brazil’s LAHM LEG INJURY teams had clear chances in the second half as Borussia Dortmund yesterday. Robben again broke Dortmund hearts. Rafinha slotted into his place. There were worrying scenes ahead of next Mueller’s shot at point-blank range was After the first 90 minutes finished goalless, And there was no fairytale finish for Poland Munich were already without defensive month’s World Cup in Brazil when Bayern’s smothered by Weidenfeller on 56 minutes. Robben broke the drought in the 107th- striker Robert Lewandowski who had prom- midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, ruled out Germany captain Philipp Lahm limped off with And at the other end, Dortmund defender minute before Mueller added a second in time ised to finish his four years at Dortmund by with a knee injury while striker Mario half an hour gone to be replaced by Franck Mats Hummels’ header was saved off the line added-on. lifting the cup before joining Bayern next sea- Mandzukic having been dropped. Ribery. on 64 minutes by Bayern’s Dante. Coach Pep Guardiola finishes his first sea- son. This was the fourth and final time Guardiola opted to play a new 3-4-3 system The Bayern bench said Lahm had taken a After the game went to extra-time, Robben son in charge of Bayern with four trophies hav- Germany’s top two sides met this season with and included 18-year-old midfielder Pierre- knock to the fibula, but it was not serious and broke the drought when he fired home at the ing already won the Bundesliga title, Club both sides finishing with two wins apiece. Emile Hoejbjerg, who was making only his he is expected to join the Germany training near post from five metres out. Mueller then World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. But it was a nervy, tense affair in front of a 11th first team appearance. camp which starts on Wednesday. took advantage of tired Dortmund legs when Bayern won the German Cup for a record 71,967 crowd at Berlin’s sold-out Olympic Dortmund were at near full strength with Hoejbjerg squandered a great chance with he held off Germany team-mate Marcel 17th time to claim the domestic league and Stadium which also included Hollywood star Lewandowski making his final appearance in half-time approaching when he fired wide Schmelzer and rounded Weidenfeller just cup double-the Champions League was the Tom Hanks who is filming ‘A Hologram for the the yellow-black shirt. Bayern made a bright from the penalty area after being left before the final whistle as Bayern defended only title to evade the Bavarian giants this sea- King’ in Germany’s capital. start as Mueller and Robben both forced unmarked. their cup title.—AFP St Johnstone end 130-year wait for Scottish Cup win GLASGOW: St Johnstone clinched the a fine fingertip save from Cierzniak to keep Scottish Cup for the first time in their 130- out a fierce James Dunne strike from the year history with a 2-0 win over Dundee edge of the box. United in a pulsating final at Celtic Park. David Wotherspoon was next to threat- United had come close to taking the en for St Johnstone but after twisting and lead on the half hour mark when Ryan turning the midfielder saw his shot deflect Dow’s flick came back off the post before off Gavin Gunning and straight to Steven Anderson headed St Johnstone in Cierzniak. United had failed to test Mannus front in first half stoppage time following a until the 32nd minute when only the post blunder from ‘keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak. stopped them taking the lead. Nadir Ciftci almost had United on level Andrew Robertson sent a curling cross terms minutes after the break as his free- into the box where Dow applied the kick nicked the inside of the bar while pro- deftest of touches only to see his effort lific Saints striker Stevie May had a goal cannon off the base of the post before it ruled out after he bundled the ball over the was hacked clear. line with his arm. The half looked to end goalless before a The game was being played at a terrific goalkeeping error handed Saints the lead tempo with chances at either end before in stoppage time. Cierzniak was caught in Steven MacLean fired home in the 84th no-man’s land as he flapped at minute to spark wild celebrations amongst Wotherspoon’s corner allowing Anderson the St Johnstone fans. time and space to send a looping header St Johnstone’s victory is their first major into the empty net. trophy success and means the past nine United were almost on level terms four domestic cup competitions in Scotland minutes into the second half when Cifti’s have been won by eight different clubs. 20-yard free-kick hit the underside of the “This is the pinnacle of my career,” said bar before bouncing down on to the line jubilant Saints manager Tommy Wright. but keeper Mannus somehow managed to “For us to win the Scottish Cup-our first keep it out. There were jubilant scenes major trophy-words can’t describe how I amongst the St Johnstone fans three min- feel about it all because it’s so special for so utes later when May bundled the ball into many people.” the net but their celebrations were cut A despondent Dundee United manag- short when the goal was quickly chopped er Jackie McNamara couldn’t hide his dis- off. Cierzniak made a fantastic save to keep appointment. “I think today just wasn’t our May’s initial header out and the striker then day. We hit the post and the bar and to lose used his hand to force the ball over the line. the goal just before half-time was a real May was booked for the offence after body blow,” McNamara said. Saints keeper referee Craig Thomson initially looked to Alan Mannus made a nervous start to the have signalled for a goal before consulting final as he fumbled an early cross from Dow with his assistant referee. before the ‘keeper needlessly raced out of From a United corner Wotherspoon ran his box to head the ball clear just in front of almost the length of the pitch to fire in a Gary Mackay-Steven. shot that Cierniak did well to clear up field However, St Johnstone were showing allowing Robertson to test Mannus with a more composure going forward and it took low drive.—AFP Corruption, Premier League worship hinder Asia SINGAPORE: Asian football is slowly climb- ond round, a performance matched by Japan ing the ladder but problems with corruption and South Korea in 2010. Currently, Iran are and a fixation with European leagues mean Asia’s top-rated side at 37th in the FIFA rank- the region will be waiting years for a maiden ings, with Japan the only other team in the World Cup win. top 50. If success were measured in population size or spending, Asian countries would be STEADY STREAM world-beaters but of the billions splashed Despite this, individual players have made out on TV feeds and football merchandise, lit- an impact, with Park Ji-Sung, Shinji Kagawa, tle finds its way to domestic leagues. The Keisuke Honda and Yuto Nagatomo among a result is that Asia, encompassing two-thirds steady stream to succeed at European clubs. of humanity, is predominantly a region which And the English Premier League draws a consumes football from afar, rather than pro- huge Asian audience while European team ducing teams capable of taking on the world. shirts are a fashion symbol on streets from Ambitious Japan look like Asia’s best hope Bangkok to Beijing. “Southeast Asia in partic- for the World Cup in Brazil. But few believe an ular remains enamored by the charms of Asian side will win this year-or at Russia 2018, Europe’s elites, but stubbornly resistant to or Qatar 2022. their domestic leagues,” said football colum- “I think Asian football has progressed but nist and author Neil Humphreys. the question is, has it progressed at a faster “Persistent allegations of match-fixing rate than other areas of the world to enable and corruption do not help of course, but the an Asian country to win the World Cup?” said lack of corporate and financial interest in Singapore-based Andy Jackson of local leagues will always make it difficult to FourFourTwo magazine. “I’m not sure it has.” entice local talent and convince their parents When co-hosts South Korea made their that football is a viable career.” improbable run to the 2002 World Cup semi- It is no coincidence that Japan, widely finals, it seemed like a watershed. But viewed as Asia’s best national team, also has progress since has been mixed.