FC Bayern end Pokal drought with Kane's treble over holders Stuttgart

FC Bayern lift the DFB-Pokal trophy for the 21st time in their history after beating holders Stuttgart in the final. In his first major final as a Bayern player, Harry Kane scored a second-half hat-trick.

With the electric atmosphere from both sets of fans at the iconic Olympiastadion in the background, we didn't have to wait long for the first shot on target. Deniz Undav's header from a corner-kick delivery called Jonas Urbig into an action inside the first two minutes.

The holders also had the next two chances through Maximilian Mittelstädt, who was surprisingly left out of Julian Nagelsmann's World Cup squad. The left wingback hit the sidenetting before Urbig made a comfortable save from his long-range shot.

In their first final for six years, Bayern needed some time to settle. Kane's misguided header from Michael Olise’s delivery at the midpoint of the half was their first meaningful attack. At the other end, Manuel Neuer's replacement had to make his third save before the half-hour mark as he denied another player rejected by Nagelsmann, Chris Führich.

Alexander Nübel, who was facing his parent club in what was most likely his last VfB game, only had one decent save to make before the break. Josip Stanisic, who won the cup during his loan stint at Bayer Leverkusen a couple of years ago, tested the goalkeeper with a low shot from outside the box.

The same 22 players were back on the pitch after the restart, including Jeff Chabot, who showed signs of an early substitution in the first-half with an injury/knock. In his first Pokal final, referee Sven Jablonski had to postpone the game briefly at the start of the second-half because of pyrotechnics from both ends.

Olise and Kane's partnership also created Bayern's first chance after the restart. Stuttgart’s defense caught by surprise when Joshua Kimmich played a free-kick short to Olise. Using his weak right foot, the Frenchman found the talismanic striker with a pinpoint delivery. Kane scored his eighth Pokal strike of the season with a free header.

There was further delay due to pyrotechnics, and Bayern nearly doubled their lead after that. Konrad Laimer missed with the goal at his mercy after Nübel's parry from Luis Diaz's effort. Stuttgart lost their rhythm not only because of the goal they conceded, but due to the game being interrupted for a few minutes after that.

After scoring ten minutes into the second-half, Kane ended the tie with a goal ten minutes before the end of regular time. Nine seconds after his audacious strike hit the woodwork, the England captain scored with a brilliant effort that involved a superb turn and composed finish. 

Before Leon Goretzka entered for his last Bayern game, Olise nearly added a third with a deflected effort. And, seconds later, the winger gave Kane the opportunity for a memorable hat-trick as Angelo Stiller was punished for a handball. With a confident finish from the spot, Kane became the first player to score ten goals in a Pokal campaign in the 21st century. Raphael Guerreiro later came on for his last minutes as a Bayern player (and possibly his career). 

Stuttgart missed out on a first back-to-back Pokal triumph as they have now lost all three finals against the record winners. Bayern completed the domestic double in Vincent Kompany's second season at the club. It's their first cup triumph since the 2019/20 treble campaign.