BERLIN: Niko Kovac stunned his future employers by leading Eintracht Frankfurt to an upset 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the German Cup final on Saturday with Ante Rebic scoring twice to deny their opponents the domestic double to mark the retirement of coach Jupp Heynckes.

The Eintracht boss, who has agreed to take over from Heynckes in Munich next season, oversaw a committed performance from his side for his first trophy as a coach and make amends for last season’s final loss.

Croatian striker Rebic scored early and late to cancel out Robert Lewandowski’s equaliser for Bayern.

Bayern might have had a penalty in injury time, but referee Felix Zwayer decided otherwise after consulting video replays, and Mijat Gacinovic then sealed it on a counterattack to delight Frankfurt fans and break Bayern’s hearts.

It was a bittersweet farewell for Heynckes, who will go back into retirement after taking over in October and leading them to their sixth straight Bundesliga title. Heynckes had coached them to the treble in 2013.

In a contrast of emotions, Kovac was lost in the arms of his players as he celebrated Frankfurt’s first Cup win in 30 years.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Frankfurt’s Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng. “Everyone said we’d be beaten out of the stadium but we showed heart and we beat Bayern Munich out of the stadium.”

Frankfurt’s fifth German Cup also provided a ticket to the Europa League next season.

“We fought and whoever fights and believes in themselves will be rewarded. I’m so proud,” Boateng said.

Kovac went one better after his side lost to Borussia Dortmund in last year’s German season-ending showpiece.

“When you stand together you can do everything,” said Kovac, who struggled to hold back his tears. “That is what marked this team for my two-and-a-half years here. Last year we missed out but this year we made it. We deserved it.

“I’m sad to be leaving. I know where I’m going, but I’ve experienced wonderful years and what we delivered here was huge. I’m leaving a team with great character, great guys.”

Bayern could have scored early when Lewandowski’s free kick bounced off the crossbar but it was the underdogs who went in front when their pressing paid off in the 11th minute and Rebic was sent through to slot in.

Bayern squandered half a dozen golden chances through Bundesliga top scorer Lewandowski, Thomas Mueller and Joshua Kimmich before the break rescued Frankfurt.

Poland striker Lewandowski made amends in the 53rd, sliding in to drill home a Kimmich cutback.

The game had lost some of its earlier pace but Frankfurt again pounced on sloppy Bayern defending for Rebic to put them back ahead.

The Bavarians desperately searched for a late equaliser and hit the bar through Mats Hummels but they gave Frankfurt far too much space and Gacinovic found plenty of it to complete a break deep in stoppage-time and score into an empty net.

“We did not use our chances,” Heynckes said. “In sports there are wins as well as defeats. “Tonight was an avoidable defeat. But Frankfurt were ambitious, strong and with passion and they also had the necessary luck. They are deserved Cup winners.”

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2018