Schalke reach final

After Robert Vittek put Nuremberg ahead in the 20th minute with the first of his two goals, Schalke scored three quick goals within seven minutes just before half-time.

Levan Kobiashvili (38), Fabian Ernst (43) and Peter Lovenkrands (45) scored in quick succession, all set up by Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi. Heiko Westermann made it 4-1 in the 58th minute before Vittek scored again in the 73rd.

Schalke, who were runners-up to VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga last season, will now face the winner of Wednesday's other semi-final between VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich. Schalke won the League Cup in 2005.

The six-team tournament, with 5.2 million euros (£3.8m) prize money, involves the top four sides in the Budesliga last season, German Cup winners Nuremberg and second division champions Karlsruhe.

The final will be played in Leipzig.