Bremen oust Hamburg and strike early cup blow

Tim Wiese saved three spot-kicks as Werder Bremen struck an early psychological blow ahead of their forthcoming UEFA Cup semi-final with Hamburger SV by defeating their Bundesliga rivals 3-1 on penalties in the last four of the German Cup. S.S. Lazio were among a clutch of other sides who reached domestic finals on another busy night around Europe.

German Cup
Bremen beat UEFA Cup semi-final opponents Hamburg 3-1 on penalties to book a 30 May final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Per Mertesacker (11) edged Bremen in front, reacting quickest after Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost turned Diego's free-kick against the crossbar. Ivica Olić (67) equalised for the hosts, who finished a man down following David Jarolím's dismissal for a foul on Mesut Özil in added time. Bremen No1 Tim Wiese engineered his side's progress, saving three spot-kicks from Jerome Boateng, Olić and Marcell Jansen.

Dutch Cup
Victor Elm and Danijel Pranjić fired SC Heerenven into the Dutch Cup final at the expense of FC Volendam. Elm (10) put the visitors ahead with a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area, although the visitors had to wait until the final six minutes to confirm a 17 May showpiece against FC Twente when Pranjić struck with a curling effort.

French Cup
Badara Sène scored an added-time winner as ten-man EA Guingamp won 2-1 at Toulouse FC, setting up a 9 May final against Stade Rennais FC. Beaten finalists in 1996/97, second-tier outfit Guingamp were ahead through Eduardo (28) before Richard Soumah (52) was dismissed and Ligue 1's top scorer André-Pierre Gignac levelled with 16 minutes remaining.

Italian Cup
Lazio will play in the Coppa Italia final, to be staged at their Stadio Olimpico ground on 13 May, after defeating Juventus 2-1 in Turin, 4-2 on aggregate. Mauro Zárate (38) curled Lazio ahead and eight minutes after half-time Aleksandar Kolarov doubled the visitors' lead when his deflected shot from the left found the top corner. Alessandro Del Piero reduced Juventus's arrears, while in a frantic finale, Pavel Nedvěd hit the post with a header and Mauro Camoranesi was sent off.

Portuguese Cup
FC Porto will contest their 26th Portuguese Cup final, although they were losers on the night, 2-1 to Liga strugglers CF Estrela da Amadora. Porto, who won the first leg 2-0, were ahead on four minutes thanks to Ernesto Farías before the hosts responded through Rui Varela (34) and Anselmo (42). The 13-time cup winners will face FC Paços de Ferreira on 31 May at Estádio Nacional following their 3-2 win at CD Nacional which secured a 5-4 aggregate triumph and a maiden final appearance.

Turkish Cup
Beşiktaş JK will meet Istanbul rivals Fenerbahçe SK in the Turkish Cup final on 13 May despite a 2-1 home defeat by Ankaraspor AŞ in the second leg of their semi-final. The Black Eagles progressed 4-3 on aggregate thanks to their 3-1 win in Ankara last month. Roguy Meyé (22) and Ömer Aysan Barış (81) struck for the visitors either side of Filip Hološko's 35th-minute equaliser.

Austrian Cup
FK Austria Wien reached the cup final for the sixth season in succession, winning 1-0 away at second division leaders SC Wiener Neustadt. Rubin Okotie struck two minutes after the break when Neustadt goalkeeper Saso Fornezzi spilled Jocelyn Blanchard's effort. Austria will play another second-tier side, FC Admira Wacker Mödling, on 24 May in Mattersburg, where they will be aiming for their fourth cup win in as many years.

Belgian Cup
KRC Genk eased past second division outfit K. Lierse SK in the second leg of their Belgian Cup semi-final, winning 4-1 to progress 6-3 on aggregate. Tom De Mul (47, 90) and Stein Huysegems (53, 89) both scored twice for the Eerste Klasse side, who will play KV Mechelen in the final on 23 May.

Armenian Cup
FC Pyunik will play FC Banants in the Armenian Cup final on 9 May. Pyunik, league champions in 2008, defeated FC Ulis Yerevan 1-0 at home to progress 4-1 on aggregate, while Banants – beaten finalists last term – overcame FC MIKA 5-3 overall after a 4-2 home win in the second leg.