Bayern set up Schalke date

By Mark Bennett

Goals from Michael Ballack and Roy Makaay helped FC Bayern München reach the German Cup final at the expense of DSC Arminia Bielefeld.

Schalke waiting
Ballack was on target with only three minutes gone as he rose to meet Bastian Schweinsteiger's corner, beating Mathias Hain with a powerful header. The Bundesliga leaders made sure of their place in the final against FC Schalke 04 when Roy Makaay scored from the penalty spot late on.

Early lead
The match at the Schüco-Arena got off to an intense start with both teams trying to stamp their authority on the game in the early stages. But Bayern looked more threatening and Ballack's goal was the reward for the brightness Felix Magath's team had shown in the opening minutes.

Kahn composure
After the break the home side took control of the action and put the Bayern defence under considerable pressure. Six minutes into the second half Oliver Kahn denied Markus Schuler, and Erwin Skela saw his shot turned around the post by the Bayern goalkeeper 15 minutes later.

Missed chances
With time ticking away Bielefeld threw more and more players forward and Bayern, using the ensuing space, created a string of good chances. Roy Makaay, Martin Demichelis and Schweinsteiger failed to put the match out of Arminia's reach, with all of them squandering good goalscoring opportunities.

Makaay clincher
Makaay was not so careless in added time as he struck from the penalty spot after a foul on Claudio Pizarro. Arminia's misery at missing out on the final took a further blow immediately before the penalty was taken, with Delron Buckley sent off for confronting referee Markus Merk.