Frankfurt stuns Bayern in Pokal thriller
Jupp Heynckes's fourth stint as Bayern Munich head coach ended on a disappointing and controversial note as successor Niko Kovac led Eintracht Frankfurt to a 3-1 win in the DFB-Pokal final.
DFB-Pokal Final: Bayern Munich 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Veteran boss Heynckes won the treble before departing last time in 2013, but Kovac himself ensured that his Bayern reign will begin with the Bundesliga champion holding just one trophy, his side aided by a questionable late call from the referee.
Ante Rebic netted early in the first half and then struck again on the counter-attack eight minutes from time, after Robert Lewandowski had drawn Bayern level and before the drama escalated in stoppage-time.
Frankfurt had ridden its luck to reach the closing stages still in a position to win the game and then, having seen VAR (video assistant referee) rule in its favour for Rebic's second, had referee Felix Zwayer to thank as he opted against awarding a Bayern penalty.
Kovac's men countered and sealed victory through Mijat Gacinovic, but the nature of the defeat will leave an especially bitter taste for Bayern and Heynckes.
Having ended the Bundesliga season with its title celebrations dampened by a home humbling at the hands of Stuttgart, the German champion heads into the off-season, and Heynckes into the sunset, on a real downer.
