Klose hits 20 mark as Bayern reaches Cup final

BERLIN: Germany striker Miroslav Klose scored his 20th goal for Bayern Munich to book his side's place in next month's German Cup final after Wednesday night's 2-0 semifinal win over VfL Wolfsburg.

Since his switch to Munich from Werder Bremen last summer, Klose now has 10 Bundesliga goals to his name, plus five in both the UEFA Cup and German Cup - but still lags behind top-scorer Luca Toni who has 24 goals for Bayern this season.

Klose, 29, added Bayern's second from close-range in the 66th minute after French midfielder Franck Ribery had broken the deadlock on the hour mark to put Bayern just one win away from lifting the cup for the 14th time.

The top scorer at the 2006 World Cup, Klose is set to shine in June's Euro 2008 tournament as his side booked its final spot against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, April 19 in Berlin with a solid team performance.

"The team played very well from the first to last minute," said Bayern manager Uli Hoeness after the final whistle. "It will be a great experience to face our old cup rivals in the final again."

The semifinal win was good news for Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld as his side bounced back after its UEFA Cup defeat by Anderlecht the week before and the humiliation of the 2-0 league defeat at strugglers Energie Cottbus last weekend.

There were changes after the Cottbus debacle with Italian World Cup winner Toni rested and Germany striker Lukas Podolski given his chance up front alongside Klose up front.

Bayern got off to a bright start as early as the second minute when Ribery found himself behind the Wolfsburg defense, but his header trickled wide. Both Klose and Podolski squandered chances early on, but Ribery got the all important breakthrough just before the hour mark.

With the Wolfsburg defence closing in, Klose slid a pass to Ribery, who unleashed his shot and ricocheted off the legs off goalkeeper Diego Benaglio into the back of the net.

And Klose added the second on 66 minutes when he followed up Marcell Jansen's shot and stabbed the ball home for his 20th goal for Bayern in all competitions.

On Tuesday night, Brazilian midfielder Tinga helped put Borussia Dortmund in next month's cup final as both goalscorer and provider in the 3-0 win over 10-man Carl Zeiss Jena.

AFP

(China Daily 03/21/2008 page22)