Werder Bremen Beats Hamburger SV 3-1

Goalkeeper Tim Wiese stopped three penalties in the shootout to lead Werder Bremen into the German Cup final past Hamburger SV on Wednesday.

After the two northern rivals played to 1-1 after extra time, with Hamburg down to 10 men, Bremen won the shootout 3-1.

Wiese stopped shots from Jerome Boateng, Ivica Olic and Marcell Jansen and made a key save at the end of extra time to help Bremen reach the final for the ninth time. Claudio Pizarro, Mesut Oezil and Torsten Frings all scored for Werder.

“What a great evening,” Wiese said.

Werder will play Bayer Leverkusen in the final in Berlin on May 30.

Visiting Werder went ahead after 11 minutes from a free kick by Diego from 18 metres. Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost parried the shot with his hand, but defender Per Mertesacker collected the rebound and tapped in.

Hamburg striker Ivica Olic drew even in the 67th. Wiese blocked the striker’s shot, the ball bounced back to Guy Demel and Olic deflected his shot inside the post.

Hamburg captain David Jarolim was sent off in injury time for hacking down Oezil, who had an open path to the goal, leaving the home team to play with 10 men for the entire extra time.

Wiese ran outside his penalty box to kick the ball out in front of Jonathan Pitroipa, as Hamburg came close to winning the game in the final minute of extra time.

Hamburg and Bremen will play against each other three more times within the next three weeks — twice in the UEFA Cup semifinals and once in the Bundesliga.

Leverkusen beat second-division Mainz 4-1, also in extra time on Tuesday.