Football
Mark Lovell, Bayern Munich blogger 7y

Lahm laments 'decisive mistake' in Bayern's Pokal loss to Dortmund

Captain Philipp Lahm admitted to his "decisive mistake" and "massive disappointment" as Bayern Munich were sensationally bounced out of the DFB Pokal, losing 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in an extraordinary semifinal in Munich.

Bayern recovered from the shock of Marco Reus' 19th-minute opener, going ahead as both central defenders found the target. The 18-time winners took command with Javi Martinez heading powerfully home from a corner on 28 minutes, before Mats Hummels stabbed home a neat finish four minutes before the break.

However, Bayern will rue a host of missed chances with the normally clinical Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben the biggest culprits.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang punished Bayern's profligacy in front of goal by nodding an equaliser on 68 minutes, before Ousmane Dembele's superb finish off the bar with 16 minutes remaining sent Dortmund to Berlin for their fourth-straight DFB Pokal final.

"It's a massive disappointment," Lahm told German broadcaster ARD. In what proved his final German Cup game, Lahm suffered the ignominy of losing the ball in the build up to Dembele's dramatic winner at the Allianz Arena. "We shouldn't concede three goals. But I made the decisive mistake for the 3-2."

Lahm, 33, will retire at the end of the season having failed to add to his tally of six German Cups.

"We really wanted to reach the final but unfortunately it didn't work out," he added. "We didn't play well in the first 15 minutes, but after that we controlled the game with great chances to lead by more goals.

"We had enough opportunities to increase our lead before and after the break. If we lead by two goals, then it's very difficult to win against us."

Bayern have seen their treble hopes disappear in eight days, losing in extra time to Real Madrid in the Champions League quaterfinals, followed by the loss to their biggest domestic rivals in the DFB Pokal semifinal.

Lahm said: "Today is another bitter setback to go with last week's disappointment."

After Bayern's recent two knockout blows, Lahm has just four Bundesliga games remaining before ending his career.

"Despite everything, I'll try and enjoy my remaining three-and-a-half weeks," he said.

Meanwhile, Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti talked about the team's disappointment in his brief postmatch news conference.

"We had many chances to decide the game. We missed out on making it 3-1 and that was our mistake," he said, referring to a Robben shot that went off the post when he and Lewandowski were free in on goal.

Left-back David Alaba agreed with his manager, and said: "We had enough chances to close out the game. If you don't take your chances then you are punished.

"Dortmund were cool and accepted theirs. If we make it 3-1 then it's a completely different game."

Dortmund will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the final after they beat Borussia Monchengladbach 7-6 on penalties.

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