VfL Wolfsburg players celebrate after defeating Arminia Bielefeld in the German Cup (DFB Pokal) semifinal match in Bielefeld Wednesday. — Reuters BERLIN — VfL Wolfsburg ended Arminia Bielefeld's sensational German Cup run, crushing the third division club 4-0 Wednesday to book a spot in its first Cup final in 20 years where it will face Borussia Dortmund.
Maximilian Arnold and Luiz Gustavo gave the visitors a two-goal first-half cushion as Wolfsburg made sure it did not succumb like Hertha Berlin, Werder Bremen and Borussia Moenchengladbach in previous rounds.
"We were extremely focused today and our mind was set on going to Berlin to the final," Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking told reporters.
"Already this morning I felt the entire team being ready for this and concentrated," he said.
Bielefeld, bidding to become only the fourth third division club to make it to the final, had its chance at the start of the second half to cut the deficit. But a free kick floated into the box by Florian Dick bounced off the bar and Fabian Klos' follow-up sailed over the goal.
It was Wolfsburg, second in the Bundesliga, which scored again with Croatian Ivan Perisic sliding in to connect with a Daniel Caligiuri assist in the 51st and Arnold adding another four minutes later to kill off the tie. Dortmund stunned holder Bayern 2-0 on penalties Tuesday with the Bavarians missing all four of their spot kicks after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
Real chasing Barca
James Rodriguez scored a stunning goal to lead Real Madrid to a 3-0 win over Almeria Wednesday that kept his side two points behind leader Barcelona in the final stretch of the Spanish league title race.
Rodriguez snapped Madrid out of its lethargic first-half performance by volleying home a long-range strike seconds before the break at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Almeria defender Mauro Dos Santos deflected a pass meant for Cristiano Ronaldo into his own goal in the 49th, and defender Alvaro Arbeloa sealed the win from Javier Hernandez's pass six minutes from time.
With four rounds left, Madrid next faces a tough visit at Sevilla Saturday, while Barcelona plays at last-place Cordoba.
Sevilla extended its undefeated streak to 10 rounds after Carlos Bacca and Jose Antonio Reyes shone in its 3-1 win at Eibar Wednesday.
An audacious solo effort by Fernando Torres' gave Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at Villarreal and kept its hold on third place.
Celta Vigo needed Manuel "Nolito" Agudo's 89th-minute winner to edge Malaga 1-0 at home, while Elche's fans enjoyed a convincing 4-0 victory over struggling Deportivo La Coruna.
Juve waiting for title
Runaway Serie A leader Juventus beat Fiorentina 3-2 Wednesday but its title celebrations were delayed by Lazio's 4-0 victory over a Parma side which is now certain to be relegated.
Fiorentina took the lead through a Gonzalo Rodriguez penalty but goals from Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez turned the match around before Gonzalo missed a second penalty.
Tevez, the league's leading scorer, sealed the result with his 20th Serie A goal of the season before Josip Ilicic netted a late consolation goal.
Juventus remained 14 points clear of Lazio and will clinch a fourth successive title with a draw at Sampdoria Saturday, as it holds the tiebreaker edge courtesy of a better head-to-head record.
Roma won 3-0 at Sassuolo to stay third. Parma, which had been deducted seven points for financial irregularities, was relegated after Atalanta drew 2-2 at Cesena.
Cesena moved level with Cagliari, which lost 1-0 at Chievo Verona and had two players sent off.
Elswhere, AC Milan was jeered off the pitch after losing 3-1 at home to Genoa.
Sampdoria also had a player sent off in a 1-1 draw against Hellas Verona. Palermo and Torino drew 2-2. — Agencies
