Nuremberg beat Stuttgart to win German Cup

By Erik Kirschbaum

BERLIN (Reuters) - Nuremberg won the German Cup for the fourth time when they beat Bundesliga champions VfB Stuttgart 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling final at Berlin's Olympiastadion on Saturday.

Stuttgart, who won the Bundesliga championship last weekend, were a man short after half an hour after their Brazilian striker Cacau, who had scored the opening goal, was sent off for throwing a punch.

Denmark midfielder Jan Kristiansen scored the winner in the 109th minute with a high shot from 25 metres that curled in from the left and beat Stuttgart keeper Timo Hildebrand to go into the top far corner.

It was the first title for Nuremberg, once one of Germany's top clubs but who have struggled in recent decades, since they won the Bundesliga in 1968 and it was their first Cup win since 1962. Nuremberg finished sixth in the Bundesliga this season.

Stuttgart scored first against the run on play in the 20th minute when Cacau chested down a pass on the left and beat keeper Raphael Schaefer with a clever flick to the far post.

Nuremberg equalised seven minutes later in an occasionally ill-tempered match played before a sell-out crowd of 74,220 on a warm and muggy evening. Slovak striker Marek Mintal got a foot on a fine low cross from the left by Dominik Reinhardt.

RED CARD

Stuttgart, chasing the double after a week of celebrating their first Bundesliga championship in 15 years, appeared to be stunned by Nuremberg's equaliser and the apparent ease with which the Bavarians moved the ball through their defence.