Bayern Munich wins 13th German Cup

Claudio Pizarro's header in the 59th minute gave Bayern Munich its 13th German Cup title Saturday with a 1-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bayern's target is to become the first German team to repeat the domestic double. In the Bundesliga, Bayern has a five-point lead with three games remaining.

The goal by Pizarro, who outjumped two defenders to Ze Roberto's corner, ended booing from 63,000 spectators. For much of the match, the favourites struggled against their relegation-threatened Bundesliga rival.

"Frankfurt had nothing to lose, but we didn't play well, I have to say that. But it's one more title," Bayern midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic said.

Bayern survived a scare in the 88th minute from Frankfurt's Greek forward, Ioannis Amanatidis. His shot off a corner through a crowd of players forced goalkeeper Oliver Kahn into a late one-handed save.

"I didn't see a thing, there were four or five players in front of me. It was instinct - I had that little luck that it came where it did," Kahn said.

Kahn became the first player to win the German Cup five times. Bayern, which also has 19 German league titles, has won all but two of its 15 appearances in the final.

Frankfurt, which claimed four German Cups between 1974 and 1988, earned a spot in the UEFA Cup despite the loss. Bayern will give up the berth which comes with its latest title to play the Champions League next season.

During a sluggish first half, Amanatidis wasted a good chance and Bayern forward Roy Makaay put a shot left of the open goal after 'keeper Oka Nikolov ran out and misjudged Willie Sagnol's cross.

Nikolov made amends in the 48th when he handed Makaay's powerful volley over the crossbar.

Makaay's attempt came in the midst of several chances by Bayern to start the half, but the Bundesliga leader had trouble moving the ball until Pizarro's fifth goal in the competition.

At times, it was hard to see any difference between Bayern and the 13th-placed side, one of the Bundesliga's youngest teams. Bayern is also having trouble scoring regular wins in the league.

"We just aren't playing well at the moment," said Bayern defender Valerien Ismael.

The German Cup is usually held after the season, but was moved forward because of the World Cup.

Bayern reaches German Cup final on Pizarro goals

Claudio Pizarro scored two late goals and Bayern Munich prevailed over stubborn third-division St. Pauli 3-0 on Wednesday, sending the Bundesliga leader into the German Cup final.

Owen Hargreaves drove the ball home with a curling, dipping shot from nearly 30 meters after 15 minutes, and Pizarro secured the victory with goals in the 83rd and 89th.

In the final in Berlin on April 29, Bayern will play Eintracht Frankfurt, which beat Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 on Tuesday.

Bayern is seeking to become the first German club to repeat the domestic double.

St. Pauli, a club from Hamburg's red-light district with a cult following, had more shots on goal in the first half, although Bayern had more possession.

Early in the second half, Oliver Kahn made a spectacular save on the line to turn away a powerful header by Felix Luz and protect Bayern's lead.

Bayern withstood a 10-minute barrage without conceding a goal against a club whose total annual budget equals the salary of an average Bayern player, about euro3.5 million (US$4.2 million).

The 19-time league and 12-time cup champion then replied with its own pressure, resulting in Philipp Lahm's effort, which struck the post from the edge of the box.

With 10 minutes remaining, striker Roy Makaay closed in alone on St. Pauli's goal only to shoot over the bar.

But the St. Pauli defense failed to clear a corner in the 83rd and Pizarro converted from close range. The striker added another six minutes later.

Bayern Munich advance to cup final

Bayern Munich join Eintracht Frankfurt in the final of the German DFB Pokal following a 0-3 win at Sankt Pauli.

St. Pauli, currently fifth in the north German regional league, could not compete with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.

Owen Hargreaves broke the deadlock for the Bavarians after fifteen minutes, and Claudio Pizarro added another two goals in the 84th and 89th.

Bayern are to meet with Eintracht Frankfurt, who defeated Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday.