Ante Rebic struck twice as Eintracht Frankfurt upset champion Bayern Munich 3-1 on Saturday to win the German Cup for the fifth time.
Croatian Rebic scored either side of a Robert Lewandowski equaliser and Frankfurt added a third in stoppage-time to make amends for last season’s final loss. It was a bitter-sweet farewell for Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, who will go back into retirement after taking over in October and leading it to its sixth straight Bundesliga title. Heynckes had coached Bayern to the treble in 2013.
30-year wait
In a contrast of emotions, his Frankfurt counterpart Niko Kovac, who will take charge of Bayern next season, was lost in the arms of his players as he celebrated Frankfurt’s first Cup win in 30 years.
Bayern could have scored early when Lewandowski’s free kick bounced off the crossbar but it was the underdogs who went in front when their pressing paid off in the 11th minute and Rebic was sent through to slot in.
Poland striker Lewandowski made amends in the 53rd, sliding in to drill home a Kimmich cutback.
The game had lost some of its earlier pace but Frankfurt again pounced on sloppy Bayern defending for Rebic to put it back ahead.
With the Bavarians desperately searching for a late equaliser and keeper Sven Ulreich also going forward, Mijat Gacinovic found plenty of space to complete a break deep in stoppage-time and score into an empty net.
The result: Eintracht Frankfurt 3 (Rebic 11, 82; Gacinovic 96) bt Bayern Munich 1 (Lewandowski) .
