Established 1961 15 Sports Thursday, April 19, 2018 Bayern rout Leverkusen to cruise into German Cup final Bayern to face either Schalke or Eintracht Frankfurt BERLIN: Thomas Mueller shone as Bayern Munich menace to the Leverkusen defence, netted his first on 52 romped to a 6-2 semi-final win at Bayer Leverkusen on minutes after good work from Thiago Alcantara, who hit Tuesday to reach the German Cup final and keep their their third eight minutes later. treble dreams alive. Leverkusen are up to third in the The Spain international ran across goal and pulled Bundesliga, but trail champions Bayern by a massive 24 back a sublime shot which wrong-footed Leverkusen points and the gulf in the league table showed up clearly goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Arjen Robben made it 5-1 when in this semi-final. he fired home unmarked in the area on 64 minutes. “We were very effective and the team worked really Jamaica winger Leon Bailey, a second-half replacement, well together,” beamed Mueller after Bayern’s master- pulled a goal back for Leverkusen with a stunning free- class in attacking football. kick on 72 minutes. But “We really deserved it, the Mueller extinguished any team performance was great. hopes of a fight-back with his “Of course we want more second and Bayern’s sixth as (titles), we can feel that some- the attacking midfielder thing is possible this season,” We are scored a classic striker’s goal. he added as Bayern eye win- When a Thiago pass ning the Cup for the 19th time delighted to played him into the area, in the club’s history. Mueller shielded the ball with Mueller, the man of the go to Berlin his body, then spun around match, scored twice and his marker to bang his shot helped set up the visitors’ first past Leno on 78 minutes. goal for Javi Martinez after Mueller was cheered off by only three minutes. Robert visiting Munich fans when he Lewandowski added a second, his 36th goal in 40 games made way for James Rodriguez on 80 minutes. this season, when left unmarked in the area as Munich Having already wrapped up a sixth straight Bundesliga raced into a 2-0 lead after just nine minutes at the title, Bayern will now face either Schalke or Eintracht BayArena in Leverkusen. Frankfurt, who meet in other semi, in the cup final in Bayer captain Lars Bender gave the hosts hope with a Berlin on May 19. 16th-minute header while the Bayern defence appealed “We are delighted that we are going to Berlin,” said for an offside call which never came. Leverkusen’s Bayern goalkeeper Ulreich. Bayern host Real Madrid in Germany winger Karim Bellarabi could have equalised the Champions League semi-final a week on Wednesday LEVERKUSEN: Bayern Munich’s Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara (R), Bayern Munich’s Austrian defender David when he twice forced Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich before the return leg in Madrid on May 1. Alaba (front, L), Bayern Munich’s French midfielder Franck Ribery (L), Leverkusen’s German midfielder Lars into reflex saves, but it stayed 2-1 at the break. “When we play like we did today, it will even be hard Bender (3L) and Leverkusen’s German midfielder Karim Bellarabi vie for the ball during the German football Cup Bayern stormed away in the second half as their star- for Real,” added Ulreich as Bayern eye a repeat of their DFB Pokal semifinal match Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich in Leverkusen. — AFP studded attack turned on the style. Mueller, a constant 2013 treble. — AFP Kane strikes, but Spurs held Barcelona hold by Brighton on for draw at Celta Vigo BRIGHTON: Harry Kane stepped up his bid to win the Premier League’s golden boot as Tottenham warmed up MADRID: Lionel Messi was thrown on as a substi- for the FA Cup semi-finals with a 1-1 draw at Brighton tute but 10-man Barcelona were relieved to escape on Tuesday. Kane fired Tottenham ahead in the 48th with a draw as Celta Vigo came within a whisker of minute when his close-range shot deflected in off inflicting the Catalans’ first league defeat of the sea- Brighton defender Bruno. son on Tuesday. It was Kane’s 26th of the season and kept him in Messi was introduced after an hour at the Stade with a chance of catching Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Balaidos and looked to have inspired another Barca who sits ahead of the Tottenham striker on 30 goals in victory when Paulinho gave the visitors a 2-1 lead the race to finish as the Premier League’s top scorer. four minutes later. But Sergi Roberto was sent off for But Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who face Manchester preventing Iago Aspas sprinting clear and in the 82nd United at Wembley on Saturday, left the Amex Stadium minute the former Liverpool striker made it 2-2, albeit frustrated after conceding an equaliser two minutes with a large slice of luck given the ball brushed his after Kane’s opener. hand on its way into the net. Vigo pushed for a late Albion drew level when Pascal Gross slotted home a winner and should have had it when substitute Lucas penalty awarded for Serge Aurier’s foul on Jose Boye went through one-on-one but he took too long Izquierdo. Tottenham have gone two games without a and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a crucial stop. league victory, but they are still in pole position to “I think we deserved to win the game,” Celta qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top BRIGHTON: Brighton’s Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (C) jumps to make a save during the English Premier Vigo coach Juan Carlos Unzue said. Earlier, a superb strike from Ousmane Dembele had been cancelled four finish. They are in fourth place, eight points ahead League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on Tuesday. — AFP out by Jonny Castro’s close-range finish as of fifth placed Chelsea, who have only five matches left Barcelona stretched their record unbeaten run to 40 to close the gap. “It was a difficult game, the first half La Liga games. was even and the second half we started really well. We first league start since October in place of Davinson Tottenham winger Son Heung-Min went closest to They also extend their lead at the top of the scored but in the next section we conceded,” Sanchez, while Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier, Mousa breaking the first-half deadlock with a low shot which table to 12 points, which could be cut to nine if Pochettino said. Dembele and Eric Dier were rested. forced a fine save from Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan. Atletico Madrid beat Real Sociedad on Thursday. “We created chances but not enough to win the Pochettino defended his selection, saying: “We were Pochettino’s men took the lead when a poor pass from “You always have to accept a point but our inten- game. The draw is a little bit disappointing because the thinking of giving the team fresh legs because Gross, followed by indecision from Gaetan Bong, tion was to win,” Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said intention was to get all three.” Brighton are eight points Saturday’s game against Manchester City was tough allowed Son to slip into the area. The South Korean did afterwards. clear of the bottom three and should be safe from rele- mentally and physically. “We have a squad good well to keep control and the ball eventually broke for “When we lost Sergi, we had difficulties but it is gation at the end of their first season back in the top- enough to win games. This result was not because we Kane to sweep home. one more point. We need only two more victories flight. With the FA Cup representing Tottenham’s last rotated the team. However, Brighton were back on level terms in the and we have to fight for them.” With one eye on chance of silverware this season, Pochettino-yet to win “Everyone is ready to play but Brighton was a very 50th minute as Izquierdo won a penalty by inducing Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Sevilla, a trophy in his four years with the north London club- difficult opponent and we need to give credit to them.” Aurier’s rash challenge. Regular Brighton penalty taker Valverde made several changes to his Barca starting made six changes from the team beaten 3-1 by Lucas Moura, given his first league start as part of Glenn Murray, who has missed twice from the spot this line-up as the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Manchester City on Saturday. Pochettino’s switches, threatened with a powerful drive season, stepped aside to allow German midfielder Pique, Samuel Umtiti, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld was handed his from distance as Tottenham tried to take control. Gross to shoot under Hugo Lloris’s dive. — AFP Rakitic were all rested. “There were players who came from playing a lot of games and I thought it suited us,” Valverde said. “Let’s see if we can give our fans some joy on half with a suspected hamstring problem. Saturday.” Ter Stegen, Philippe Coutinho and Inter move third Cancelo left Cagliari’s Alessio Cragno with no Dembele were the more established names selected chance in goal early but Karamoh could have got the and Dembele took his chance, capping an excellent second after quarter of an hour in Milan when captain attacking display with a brilliantly taken goal in the to put pressure Icardi set him up with only the goalkeeper to beat.