No final cup for Klopp as Wolfsburg defeat Dortmund to win DFB Pokal

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp’s reign ended in disappointment, as Wolfsburg ran out deserved 3-1 winners in a thrilling DFB Pokal final, despite the Yellow-Blacks taking an early lead.

When energetic forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang volleyed home Shinji Kagawa’s lovely lofted pass in the fifth minute, the script looked set for Klopp, and the legions of travelling Dortmund fans adorned in yellow, to say goodbye in style.

The Westfalenstadion side certainly began as the brightest team in Berlin, emboldened by Aubameyang’s opener. However, after an off-colour Marco Reus then squandered a chance to make it 2-0, skying a simple shot over the crossbar, Die Wolfe seized the game by the scruff of the neck and never looked back.

Brazil and former Bayern Munich midfield shield Luis Gustavo was the surprise protagonist, lashing home the equaliser from close range around the 21st minute mark, after Naldo’s stinging free kick was pushed into his path by Austrian stopper Mitchell Langerak.

Soon after, star playmaker Kevin De Bruyne swung the balance even further in Wolfsburg’s favour, after Dutch dangerman Bas Dost’s clever knock-down found the brilliant Belgian in acres of space.

De Bruyne duly smashed a low shot through Mats Hummel’s legs and into the low left hand corner, easily beating Langerak who was slow to react, to cap off a sensational individual campaign.

Dost then turned goal hero himself, exploiting Dortmund’s dismal defending, as the Clockwork Orange international’s pinpoint header made it 3-1. It was fine work down the right flank by former Klopp capture Ivan Perisic that unlocked the backline, but Neven Subotic was nowhere near dangerous Dost when the cross came in.

Just before the break Aubameyang had a penalty shout, after full back Ricardo Rodriguez bundled the striker over in the box, waved away, and Dortmund clearly had a mountain to climb.