German Cup Semi-Finals

Antonio da Silva clinched the victory and Stuttgart's spot in the German Cup final against Nuremberg early in the match with a free-kick from 28 meters.

In the first semi-final on Tuesday, Nuremberg thrashed Eintracht Frankfurt 4-0. The final in Berlin on May 26 pits two teams who have won the trophy three times each.

Stuttgart, third in the Bundesliga going into this weekend's matches, last won the cup in 1997 while Nuremberg's last cup title came 45 years ago and their last appearance in the final was in 1982 when they were beaten by Bayern Munich.

Wolfsburg, who have never won any domestic silverware but were losing cup finalists to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1995, were chasing the game after da Silva's splendid strike and never managed to catch up.

The 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder curled a left-foot free-kick over the defensive wall and inside the post to beat the diving Simon Jentzsch in goal.

German Cup a player's dream

"I have been practicing free-kicks in training and hit the ball well," he said.

Reaching the final was "the dream of every child who plays football and who has the will to win a title," he added.

There were few chances for either side but Wolfsburg thought they had an equalizer seven minutes into the second half only for Marcelinho to be adjudged offside.

However television pictures showed the Brazilian was onside before he slotted the ball past goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.

Wolfsburg coach Klaus Augenthaler said, despite the loss, he was satisfied with his side's performance.

"I can't fault my team," he said. "We have to take the positive from this. I didn't see any difference between a team that is playing for the championship and my team."

Frankfurt hammered 4-0

Frankfurt came close to scoring several times, but were defeated for good when Tomas Galasek fired home a free-kick from 30-meters out in the 54th. Youngster Chhunly Pagenburg wrapped up the big win in the dying seconds.

"We got a deserved win although Frankfurt created some problems for us in the first half," said Nuremberg coach Hans Meyer. "If you get the first goal early in such a match it is a major factor."

Frankfurt coach Friedhelm Funkel said he knew his team was in over its head.

"Last year we beat them narrowly in the round of 16, but tonight they were clearly the better team," he said. "We have lost against the team which will win the cup."

Nuremberg, who are enjoying their best season in years, have won the cup three times, the last success coming in 1962, and are currently placed fifth in the Bundesliga. They last played in the cup final 25 years ago, losing the 1982 decider 4-2 against Bayern Munich.

The cup title brings with it a place in the UEFA Cup, but both teams could by then already have places in European competition next season.

Stuttgart have hopes of Champions League qualification while Nuremberg are currently fifth in the league which would also be enough for a UEFA Cup place.