Rost heroics send Schalke through

By Mark Bennett

FC Schalke 04 goalkeeper Frank Rost saved three penalties in the penalty shoot-out before converting the decisive spot-kick himself to send Schalke to the German Cup final with a 5-4 victory against Werder Bremen after their semi-final had finished 2-2 after extra time.

No sympathy
Rost, a former Bremen player, showed no sympathy for his former club by denying Paul Stalteri, Tim Borowski and Fabian Ernst in the shoot-out. The Schalke goalkeeper then rounded off a fine display by converting the final penalty of the evening to send his side through to the final in Berlin.

Sand strikes
After a slow start, the match picked up pace considerably after the break, Schalke taking the lead in the 64th minute. Valérien Ismaël was robbed of possession by Levan Kobiashvili, Lincoln fed the ball to Ebbe Sand and the Danish international made no mistake from close range.

Ismaël equaliser
Schalke appeared to be in charge but just as it looked as if Ralf Rangnick's team had done enough to win, the holders conjured up an equaliser with seven minutes remaining. Ismaël made amends for his mistake by getting on to the end of Tim Borowski's cross and shooting past Rost.

Drama continues
With the scores tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes the match went into extra time and the drama continued. Four minutes had been played when Borowski volleyed an Aaron Hunt pass past Rost to give the visitors the lead. However, less than two minutes later former Bremen striker Ailton equalised for Schalke with a vicious shot from the edge of the area.

Rost heroics
With no further goals the match had to be decided on penalties and Rost took centre stage to send his side through 5-4. Schalke will know their opponent on Wednesday when DSC Arminia Bielefeld and FC Bayern München meet for the other place in the final.