Leverkusen are DFB-Pokal Winners! | 1. FC Kaiserslautern vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen 0-1 DFB-Pokal Final

The 2024 DFA Pokal final is a classic David versus Goliath showdown. Newly crowned German champions Bayer Leverkusen looking for a domestic double, but second tier Kaiserslautern are standing in their way. The Red Devils of Kaiserslautern have won this trophy twice before but have been battling relegation for most of the season. Can they produce a seismic shock in front of the DFA president, Bernd Neuendorf? Leverkusen's 51 game unbeaten run came to an end on Wednesday as they lost the Europa League final to Atalanta and they're under pressure here as Daniel Hanzlick produces the first moments of danger. Fine save by Hrodetsky, that was close. Leverkusen have already scored 23 goals in this tournament this season and here is Wiertz, it's an excellent run. Florian Wiertz, fantastic save by Julian Kruijl. Well Wiertz has just been named as the Bundesliga's player of the season and this is why, mesmeric skill. Leverkusen building some momentum here, it's in towards Patrick Schick. Through a full stretch here Kaiserslautern, oh what a strike! Scene routine, it's his first ever goal in the DFA Pokal and it was unstoppable. Beautifully placed and after their disaster in Dublin it's just what Leverkusen needed to settle their nerves. So patient Leverkusen, play with such control. Here's Alex Grimaldo, Alex Grimaldo! And hacked away brilliantly Boris Tomiak. He has saved his team here, really sharp defending. Xabi Alonso says the pain of Dublin can help his team. Short from Alex Grimaldo to Jonas Hofmann. And it's Alex Grimaldo! How many times have we seen him hit the top corner with that left foot? But not this time. Kaiserslautern have found it so difficult to open up space in this game but this is better. Here's Kenny Prince Redondo. And it was always curling away from goal but that was much much better from Kaiserslautern but they couldn't test Radetzky. 70-year-old coach Friedhelm Funkel has fired up as ever. Moving towards halftime here. That's clumsy from Kostadou and he's already had yellow cards and I think Odilon Kostadou is in big trouble here. That was reckless and it'll be a second yellow card shown by Bastian Dankert. A real headache for Xabi Alonso. Bayern down to 10. A twist in this final. Kaiserslautern given a huge lift by that red card. They've got plenty forward here. Here's Sean Simmer. And now Raschl! That is so close from the former Dortmund player Tobias Raschl. Radetzky was beaten. A lot for Funkel to think about it. How can he use the extra man by a 1-0 up at halftime? Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann enjoying the occasion. Leverkusen haven't won this tournament since 1993 when they beat Hertha Berlin's second team. Here's Adli and he'll go for goal. Beaten away but I mean Adli on as a halftime substitute. He's the top scorer in this competition with five goals. Alex Grimaldo to take. Stanisic! They scored some big goals this season. Josip Stanisic off target here. Kaiserslautern have lost the DFB Pokal final five times. Desperate to avoid a sixth defeat. Here's Ragnar Aker and he'll go for goal. But that was rather tame. He is their top scorer this season with 17 goals in all competitions. Radetzky wasn't worried here. This is a good spell for Kaiserslautern. Second tier team starting to sparkle. Here's Aker. He's done well. Ragnar Aker saved by Radetzky and no Kaiserslautern player gambled on the rebound. Good stretch from the captain. It's really good work to win that ball back. And now Leverkusen have numbers. Here's Fiertz. He's done brilliantly. He's played in Frippong. Frippong around the goalkeeper. But he went for the cross instead of going for goal. Agonizing for Leverkusen. Into the final quarter of an hour. Here come the 10 men again. Here's Adli. It's Sami and Adli. See what he was trying to do. Just bend it inside the far post. Goalkeeper was scrambling. 90th minute. That's clever from Xhaka. Fiertz is away. He can finish it here. Wonderful goalkeeping by Kral. He was so alert. And he denies Florian Fiertz brilliantly. They're still in this final. Seconds away from glory now, Leverkusen. Domestic domination of Leverkusen. Agony for Funko Kaiserslautern, who gave so much. But when it comes to German football this term, Bayern have been all-conquering. A season beyond their wealthiest dreams. Leverkusen have the der Bundesliga title. And Xabi Alonso has delivered again.