The summer edition of the Telekom Cup 2017 was held on Saturday, July 15 infront of 41.283 spectators at the Borussia Park, the home of Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach with champions FC Bayern Munich, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and SV Werder Bremen also part of the four team tournament.
All the matches were played with a duration of 45 minutes without any extra-time. A penalty shoot-out would take place in case of a draw at full time.
Borussia Mönchengladbach took on Werder Bremen in the opening first semifinal with the match ending goalless. Bremen won the match 5-3 on penalties as new Gladbach teenager Mickael Cuisance of France having his penalty saved by new Bremen keeper Jiri Pavlenka.
Meanwhile FC Bayern Munich and 1899 Hoffenheim clashed in the second semifinal with the Bavarians showing that the Bundesliga title once more will go through them as goalgetter Robert Lewandowski scored a beautiful 7th minute winner as Hoffenheim found it tough going.
The third place playoff between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1899 Hoffenheim also ended goalless, but again it was up to the great performances by the goalkeepers who denied the strikers on numerous occasions. But in the penalty shootout both sets of players scored all their five penalties before Florian Mayer had his penalty saved and Hoffenheim defender Ermin Bicakcic scored the winner with a risky straight effort to seal third place.
James Rodríguez in action for FC Bayern München at the Telekom Cup 2017 (© Telekom)
So then came the final between Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen with new FCB signing James Rodriguez making his debut in a Bayern Munich shirt. All eyes were on James, but overall the Bundesliga champions should an impressive performance this early in pre-season. It was captain of the day Thomas Müller, who gave his side a 13th minute lead with a lovely placed long ranger and then after some misses Juan Bernat added a second in the 34th minute.
But not all was perfect then only two minutes later Thomas Delaney held teenager Franck Evina in the box, but Thomas Müller’s weak penalty was saved by keeper Michael Zetterer, which in the end didn’t make any difference as Bayern Munich defended their Telekom Cup title and won it for a fourth time in total.
A successful afternoon of Bundesliga football at the Borussia Park which saw a lot of interest from the fans ahead of the upcoming Bundesliga campaign.
(Photos courtesy: Telekom)
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