BERLIN — VfB Stuttgart edged past surprise package Freiburg 2-1 Wednesday to set up a German Cup final against Bayern Munich and secure a European spot for next season. With Bayern having already clinched the Bundesliga title this season, Stuttgart, 12th in the league and off the European spots, is assured a place in next season's Europa League even if it loses the June 1 final in Berlin. Three-time winner Stuttgart, which last reached the final in 2007, got the early goal it was aggressively looking for when Arthur Boka slotted home after a dazzling 40-meter run by Ibrahima Traore in the 10th minute. Its joy was shortlived, however, when Jan Rosenthal sprinted clear and beat keeper Sven Ulreich with a well-placed shot in Freiburg's first offensive foray in the 14th. Austria international Martin Harnik, who had missed a huge chance in the opening minutes, restored Stuttgart's lead with a close-range header off the bar on the half hour. “These are special moments and that is why we do this job,” said Stuttgart coach Bruno Labbadia, whose team competed in the Europa League this season but had a disastrous start to the new year. “My team fought with everything they had. This team has gone to its limits constantly in the past 2-1/2 years and now it is being rewarded for it.” Roma-Lazio final Roma came from behind to win 3-2 at Inter Milan in the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinals Wednesday to set up a capital derby final against Lazio. Mattia Destro, who spent time in Inter's youth ranks, scored twice for Roma before a stunning long-range lob from teammate Vasilis Torosidis helped their team progress 5-3 on aggregate. “I really wanted to play and score, I had been out for three months,” Destro said. “Now there's a really important final ahead of us. It means so much to us and we really want to win it.” “It was (Inter's) decision not to keep me and that's fine.” Jonathan, who only started after Esteban Cambiasso was injured in the warm-up, gave Inter the lead in the 22nd minute by combining with Ricky Alvarez and Tommaso Rocchi for a well-worked goal. Ricky Alvarez pulled one back for Inter 10 minutes from time. Inter was without Antonio Cassano, Rodrigo Palacio, Diego Milito, Walter Gargano, Yuto Nagatomo and Dejan Stankovic due to injury, while Alvaro Pereira and Fredy Guarin were suspended. It was Inter's fourth loss in five matches. The hosts started well, however, and was on course to progress to the final on away goals after Jonathan played a one-two first with Alvarez and then a backheeled version with Tommaso Rocchi before firing into the bottom left corner. Roma had been struggling to carve out any real opportunities until Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic pulled off brilliant saves to deny Mattia Destro and Alessandro Florenzi at the end of the first half. Destro leveled 10 minutes after the interval, beating the offside trap to run onto Erik Lamela's pass and lift the ball over the onrushing Handanovic. He doubled his tally in the 69th, running in unmarked to tap Federico Balzaretti's low cross into an empty net. Torosidis secured Roma's place in the final five minutes later, bursting down the right flank before volleying into the far top corner from outside the area. Alvarez's shot was deflected past goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg to give Inter some faint, but ultimately futile, hope. — Agencies
