Bayern Munich's hopes of winning the treble were ended Tuesday after losing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund on penalties as their DFB-Pokal (German Cup) semi-final finished 1-1 after extra-time.
Having been crowned Bundesliga champions on Sunday, Bayern missed all four of their spot-kicks to put Dortmund in the German Cup final on May 30.
Bayern – who did win the treble of European, Cup and Bundesliga titles in 2013 – can still win the Champions League and face Barcelona next Wednesday in the semi-final, first-leg.
“The shoot-out had a stupid start, it summed up our game,” said goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who failed to convert Bayern’s fourth penalty.
“We could have decided it over 90 minutes and also in extra-time. It’s a bitter defeat.”
Robert Lewandowski scored against his former employers to give Bayern a first-half lead before Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised 15 minutes from time to take the game into extra-time.
The shoot-out got off to a dramatic start when Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso both slipped to fire Bayern’s first two penalties over the bar.
Ilkay Gundogan and Sebastian Kehl converted theirs for Dortmund before Bayern’s Mario Gotze had his effort saved by goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak.
Dortmund captain Mats Hummels had his shot saved before Munich’s shot-stopper Neuer hit the cross bar with Bayern’s fourth spot-kick to send Dortmund to Berlin.
“Both teams gave everything and Bayern were certainly superior in the first-half, but we more than deserved to equalise in the second-half, today was our day,” said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.
Dortmund have reached their third Cup final in four years under Klopp and will face either Wolfsburg or third-division leaders Arminia Bielefeld, who meet in Wednesday’s other semi-final.
Klopp is leaving Dortmund at the end of the season after seven years and two German league titles.
The 47-year-old wants to bow out with one last title and his side lived up to his pre-match promise that they were “spoiling for a fight” in Munich.
Dortmund were reduced to ten men when replacement midfielder Kevin Kampel was dismissed in the second period of extra time for a second booking after being on the field just 25 minutes.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola has a few concerns ahead of their Champions League semi-final as Lewandowski appeared to finish the match with concussion.
And Dutch winger Arjen Robben lasted just 16 minutes of his comeback after more than a month out with torn stomach muscles.
Lewandowski netted Munich’s 29th-minute opener when he finished off a counter-attack and then hit the cross-bar in the second half.
The Polish hot-shot should have had a second when he hit the woodwork on 55 minutes before referee Peter Gagelmann missed a clear hand-ball from Dortmund defender Marcel Schmelzer.
Dortmund equalised when replacement Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired across goal and Aubameyang’s shot crossed the line before the ball was caught by Neuer on 75 minutes.
There was no need for goal-line technology to prove the goal was legitimate.
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger came on and had two headers saved in extra time by Australia goalkeeper Langerak, who like Neuer, had a superb game.
Langerak flattened Lewandowski in the final five minutes when he punched the ball clear, but collided with the striker’s head, which left Guardiola outraged and the Poland star groggy.
The Poland star was a bemused figure on the bench as the penalty shoot-out unfolded in front of his vacant eyes.
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
More on Quran memorisation:
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