Soccer-Nuremberg Cup win caps season of surprise in Germany

By Erik Kirschbaum

BERLIN, May 27 (Reuters) - It's been a long time since one-time German powerhouse Nuremberg last won a title.

The long-suffering club beat Bundesliga champions Stuttgart 3-2 in an extra-time thriller to win the German Cup on Saturday.

It was the first silverware in two generations for the club that was once a dominant force with nine German championships.

It was also a fitting conclusion to a season of surprises -- such as back-to-back double winners Bayern Munich falling to fourth place.

From the first German championship in 1920 to the last in 1968, the side known across the country as "der Club" were feared. Nuremberg had an incredible 104-match winning streak from 1918 to 1922.

"It's a beautiful moment for all the 'Club' fans who had to endure all the problems and dubious past performances for so long," said Nuremberg coach Hans Meyer.

Nuremberg fell to the third division in 1996 after being penalised six points for financial problems. They climbed back to top flight but were relegated again in 1999 and 2003.

They bounced right back in 2004 but struggled to avoid relegation until Meyer arrived in 2005.