VfB reach DFB Cup final!

Match summary

A hard-fought and physical contest unfolded from the start at the sold-out MHP Arena. VfB struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and Freiburg had the first opportunity of note after 17 minutes, when Vincenzo Grifo played in Maximilian Eggestein, whose shot from five metres was well saved by Alexander Nübel.

Eggestein nets

However, Nübel couldn’t prevent Eggestein putting the visitors ahead 11 minutes later. From a corner, Matthias Ginter flicked the ball on and the Freiburg midfielder diverted it in from close range.

Demirovic and Leweling go close

Sebastian Hoeneß’s side found it hard to break down the compact visitors and didn’t fashion their first real chance until the 40^th minute. Deniz Undav teed up strike partner Ermedin Demirovic in the penalty area, but he fired over from 12 metres. That was the start of a period of pressure from VfB at the end of the first half, with Jamie Leweling narrowly missing the target and Igor Matanovic blocking Undav’s effort.

Chance for Führich

VfB picked up where they left off and continued to push for the equaliser at the start of the second half, but Chris Führich (48’) and Angelo Stiller (60’) both missed good opportunities. The visitors were camped deep inside their own half but did remain a threat on the occasional counter.

Undav equalises

The MHP Arena eventually erupted in the 70^th minute. On the break, substitute Bilal El Khannouss played the ball into the path of Undav, who steered it into the bottom left corner to level the score at 1-1.

VfB curse luck

Stuttgart looked the more likely to go on and get a winner in the closing stages of normal time. In the 82nd minute, Freiburg goalkeeper Florian Müller managed to direct Undav’s deflected shot onto the left-hand post, before VfB’s top scorer narrowly missed the target again in the 89th minute. Führich and Undav were then both denied by Müller saves in stoppage time, taking the match to extra time.

Führich hits post

Stuttgart also had the first chance of extra time after six minutes, when Undav played a perfect pass into Führich, whose shot from 14 metres rattled the post. Müller then made a sensational save to thwart El Khannouss at close range.

Tomas the hero at the death

VfB’s persistence paid off in the 120th minute. Badredine Bouanani crossed the ball into the penalty area to fellow substitute Tiago Tomas, who flicked it into the net to make it 2-1 and send Stuttgart through to the final for the second year in a row.

Bayern in the final

The holders will meet FC Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on 23 May. The match kicks off at 20:00 CEST.

Goals

28th minute: VfB fail to clear a corner properly, allowing Ginter to head the ball back towards goal, where Eggestein turns it in from three metres out.

70th minute: A swift counter-attack sees El Khannouss’ pass find Undav, who equalises with a low shot into the left corner.

120th minute: Bouanani finds Tomas in the penalty area and he flicks the ball into the net for the winning goal.