Bayern Munich clinch 2017 Telekom Cup
Xinhua, January 15, 2017 Adjust font size:
Bayern Munich overcame Mainz 2-1 on the goals from Franck Ribery and Javi Martinez to wrap up the 2017 Telekom Cup in front of 41.244 spectators at Dusseldorf's Espirt Arena on Saturday.
The German record champions have won the mini tournament, which is usually held in the summer, for the third time as they beat Mainz 2-1 in the final. Meanwhile, second division team and hosts Fortuna Dusseldorf finished on third after edging Monchengladbach 2-0.
Carlo Ancelotti's men caught a perfect start into the final as Franck Ribery capitalized on a one-two with Thomas Mueller to place the ball into the bottom left to mark the opener with four minutes played.
Mainz remained unimpressed and responded only four minutes later as Andre Ramalho unleashed a hammer from the edge of the box into the top left corner to restore parity.
The "Bavarians" grabbed the lead again in the 11th minute after Javi Martinez headed home a corner at the near post to make it 2-1 on the scoreboards. Mainz pressed for the equalizer but Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer denied Jhon Cordoba twice to secure the victory.
Bayern should have added another goals to their lead but neither Martinez nor Joshua Kimmich were able to utilize their promising opportunities.
"It is always great to win. But, it is also important to make a good game," Bayern midfielder Franck Ribery said after the tournament.
Bundesliga front-runners Bayern Munich kick off the second-half of the campaign against newly promoted Freiburg on January 20. Enditem