Elson opens the door

VfB head coach Markus Babbel made a total of six changes to his starting eleven for the game against Karlsruhe SC in comparison to the team that began in the clash with Zenit St. Petersburg in the UEFA Cup in mid-week. Georg Niedermeier, Ludovic Magnin, Timo Gebhart, Elson, Martin Lanig and Ciprian Marcia replaced Kahild Boulahrouz, Christian Träsch, Roberto Hilbert, Jan Simak, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Cacau.
In the capacity filled Wildpark Stadium, KSC took control of proceedings during the opening phases and had the bulk of the possession but failed to ever really threaten the VfB goal. It took until the 32nd minute before the visitors finally managed to launch a genuine attack, as Ciprian Marica drove a shot from distance against the post and five minutes later, Martin Lanig was also to be denied by the frame of the goal. It was a cagey affair which was to see the teams go in at the break still locked in stalemate.

Elson and Khedira see off KSC

Just five minutes into the second period, VfB made their break-through. Mario Gomez passed to Marica, who forced a way through to the by-line before squaring to Elson. The Brazilian took one touch to control the ball before slotting into an empty net. Minutes later, Ludovic Magnin tested the Karlsruhe keeper, Markus Miller, with a powerful free-kick from 22 meters out. The game began to lose it's way by mid-way through the second half, with KSC looking for a way back into the game but again and again getting caught off-side or being foiled by the VfB defence. The visitors were more patient and took their opportunities to hit on the break. With two minutes to go, Sami Khedira used one of those counter attacks to score a second for VfB and put the tie beyond KSC. Markus Babbel and his men get to take three very deserved and equally important points back to Stuttgart.

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