Match summary
Sebastian Hoeneß named a completely new starting XI following the 2-1 home win over Mainz at the weekend, but was forced to make a last-minute change shortly before kick-off. Tiago Tomas sustained an injury during the warm-up, so Deniz Undav replaced him in the side.
Perfect start
VfB got off to an ideal start and took the lead after just six minutes when Luca Jaquez headed home from a corner. Stuttgart subsequently controlled the game and forced Mainz to chase the ball, even if they were unable to make the most of their dominance by adding to the scoreline.
Bredlow to the rescue
The hosts grew into the game, however, and created their first chance after 25 minutes when Nadiem Amiri took aim from distance, but Fabian Bredlow made a good save. VfB went close to extending their lead shortly before the interval, but Robin Zentner blocked Badredine Bouanani’s strike from a tight angle.
Karazor decides it
Undav had a chance early in the second half when Lennard Maloney’s attempted clearance came straight to him, but the Germany international’s left-footed strike flew narrowly wide of the top-left corner (47’). Substitute Chris Führich also had a sight of goal in the 70th minute but he was unable to get the better of Zentner either.
Atakan Karazor showed them how it was done three minutes later, confidently burying the all-important second goal from around 13 metres out from Undav’s pass. That proved to be the knockout blow, with VfB deservedly celebrating reaching the next round at the final whistle.
Goals
6th minute: Bilal El Khannouss delivers an inswinging corner and the unmarked Jaquez meets the ball perfectly on the edge of the six-yard box to power in a header for the early lead.
73rd minute: VfB get forward well via Führich and Undav, who cleverly lays the ball square to Karazor inside the penalty area. The captain makes no mistake with a first-time effort into the left-hand corner to make it 2-0.