By Derek Wilson, dpa
Berlin (dpa) – Borussia Dortmund were far too strong for Hertha Berlin in their German Cup semi-final Wednesday and a 3-0 win in the capital set up a final encounter with Bayern Munich.
Dortmund had only Gonzalo Castro’s 20th minute strike to show for their complete dominance of the first half but Marco Reus settled the contest with a second goal 15 minutes from time. Henrikh Mkhitaryan then completed the scoring late on.
Losing finalists last season, Dortmund return to Berlin for the May
21 final looking to regain the trophy they last won in 2012 with a thrashing of Bayern. Pep Guardiola’s side, who beat Dortmund in the
2014 final, are targeting the cup as they attempt to repeat the treble of 2013.
Hertha will rue their passive first half and though they offered more resistance after the break, they can have little complaint about their dream of an appearance in a cup final in their own stadium ending.
«Dortmund are too quick for us,» Hertha coach Pal Dardai told Sky TV.
«That’s a top team and there’s also a learning process for my team.
There’s still something missing.»
Hertha, currently fourth in the Bundesliga, resume their bid for European football against Bayern at the weekend.
Dortmund were without injured top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and midfielder Ilkay Guendogan was on the bench as coach Thomas Tuchel deemed him not fit enough for 90 minutes.
After the recent Europa League exit to Liverpool and with the Bundesliga slipping away, the German Cup is the last chance for Tuchel to secure a trophy in his first season.
«I’m very happy and very pleased with how we played,» Tuchel said. «A big, big compliment to the team. We deserved to win.»
Dortmund made a positive start and were in control of the tie immediately even if chances were hard to come by.
The true opportunity brought the opening goal as Reus’ attempt to connect with Shinji Kagawa’s cross was blocked but the rebound fell perfectly for Castro to curl into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Reus somehow blazed high over the bar when he should have scored from Marcel Schmelzer’s cross and ex-Hertha player Adrian Ramos controlled the ball well in the box only to shoot straight at keeper Rune Jarstein.
Jarstein was tested again with a long hit from Reus and only a desperate saving tackle by Niklas Stark denied Schmelzer after he was set up by a superb Mkhitaryan pass.
Hertha were lucky not to be down and out but finally mounted a proper attack on the verge of half time and spurned a brilliant chance to level. Full-back Mitchell Weiser got forward to cross but Jens Hegeler struck at Roman Buerki when a more precise finish would have scored.
And the hosts spurned another glorious chance in the second half when Salomon Kalou failed to turn home John Anthony Brooks’ flick from close range.
Jarstein kept Hertha alive with a point-blank saves from Ramos and Mkhitaryan on the volley but Hertha refused to roll over and Kalou sent another header just wide.
The decisive moment came soon after when Brooks slipped in midfield leading to Kagawa breaking clear on the right. His cross found Reus and though Jarstein got a hand to his shot, it found the far corner of the net.
Guendogan had a long shot tipped onto the post by Jarstein before Mkhitaryan tapped in from Reus’ cut-back to complete the rout and confirm the May date with Bayern.
«It won’t be easy but we have the tools to beat them,» Mats Hummels said
