Bayern Munich’s treble dream is over after four consecutive penalty misses in a shoot-out saw them lose their DFB Pokal semi-final against Borussia Dortmund.
After the scores finished 1-1, slips from Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso in the shoot-out contributed to the defeat, but it was Manuel Neuer’s spot-kick against the bar which sealed the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions’ fate.
It means Klopp can end his tenure at Dortmund as a German Cup winner.
Both Lahm and Alonso fell while taking their kicks giving Dortmund a 2-0 victory on penalties after the scores were tied at 1-1 after 120 minutes of action.
Bayern had seemed to be coasting towards victory when Robert Lewandowski gave them a 29th minute, sliding the ball home after his first effort came back off the post.
The Polish striker almost made it two with an audacious effort just before half-time, before Michael Langerak pulled off one of several fine stops to deny Thomas Mueller shortly after the break.
Lewandowski then hit the bar before Mueller had a strong appeal for handball against Marcel Schmelzer turned down and Thiago forced Langerak into another good stop.
However, the unimaginable happened with 16 minutes of normal time remaining as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slotted home at the far post.
The Gabonese striker’s goal ensured extra-time, but it was the hosts who had the better of it, despite losing Arjen Robben to injury, as Bastian Schweinsteiger went close on several occasions.
Dortmund were also reduced to 10 men as substitute Kevin Kampl received a second yellow card.
But Klopp’s men forced penalties, where misses from Lahm, Alonso, Mario Goetze – who hit a solid, low effort that drew a fine save from Langerak – and Neuer handed them an unforgettable victory.
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