Football: Schalke lift German Cup

BERLIN: Schalke 04 won the German Cup for the fifth time, crushing second division Duisburg 5-0 to book a Europa League spot as Manuel Neuer lifted the trophy in probably his final game for the club. Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar struck twice as Schalke took up their last chance of a European place after a rollercoaster season saw them reach the Champions League semi-finals but finish 14th in the Bundesliga. It was the highest winning margin in the German Cup final since Schalke’s 5-0 win over Kaiserslautern in 1972. “We were focused from the start and it turned out to be a clear win, thank God,” said Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2011.