DFB Pokal: Stuttgart 2 Freiburg 1

Stuttgart will face runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal final after a 2-1 victory over Freiburg.

Wednesday’s semi-final was decided in an early flurry with all three goals coming in the opening half-an-hour with Austrian winger Martin Harnik scoring the decisive goal for Stuttgart.

Stuttgart will take on Bayern in the DFB Pokal decider in Berlin on June 1 hoping to claim their first German Cup since 1997.

Freiburg headed into the semi-final in Stuttgart sitting fifth in the Bundesliga, seven positions ahead of the hosts, and hoping to keep their cup run going as they looked to win the first major trophy in their history.

But it was Stuttgart who struck first with Ibrahima Traore flying down the left in the ninth minute before cutting the ball back to Arthur Boka to side-foot home from near the penalty spot.

The visitors struck back in the 13th minute as a number of sharp passes around the halfway line eventually saw Max Kruse release Jan Rosenthal through on goal and the German midfielder held off Boka before scoring from the edge of the penalty area.

Stuttgart were back in front in the 28th minute, however, when Christian Gentner’s volleyed cross was headed in at the back post by Harnik.

The home team held on in a tense second half that saw four yellow cards dished out as the match became spiteful.