The Swabians put themselves in trouble with an unnecessary corner, but in extra time Sebastian Hoeneß’s team made it to the final again. A dream goal from Tiago Tomas ensures the decision.
VfB Stuttgart won the semi-final of the DFB Cup against SC Freiburg 2-1 (1-1, 0-1) and can continue to dream of defending their title. Maximilian Eggestein gave the guests the lead (28th), Deniz Undav equalized in the 70th minute. Tiago Tomas scored the winning goal late in extra time with a dream goal (119′).
“Of course it feels good after such an exhilarating game,” said VfB sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth after the final whistle. “I think you could see that both teams were aware of the importance of the game.” On the Freiburg side, however, there was frustration. “Stuttgart had a lot of chances, a lot of top-class players too. We were lucky a few times. But when you’re so close, it’s extremely bitter,” said Lucas Höler.
Referee Tobias Welz whistled the game a few minutes later because thick smoke was wafting through the atmospheric Stuttgart Arena due to the burning of pyrotechnics. In the opening minutes, both teams looked for a way to go on the offensive, but there were initially no successful attacks. Deniz Undav made his first mark, but his 25-meter shot was way too high (7th). After just under a quarter of an hour things got heated: Jamie Leweling was played near the halfway line and cleared away by Jordy Makengo, and Johan Manzambi and Undav also clashed. The result was a small pack formation and Makengo was shown a yellow card.
Eggestein takes the Freiburg lead
The sports club had the first good opportunity. Vincenzo Grifo fed Maximilian Eggestein in the center, who was tripped up by Angelo Stiller but was still able to finish – VfB keeper Alexander Nübel was there (17th). Freiburg’s demand for a penalty went unheard. After almost half an hour, VfB gave the guests a gift, which they gratefully accepted. Angelo Stiller wanted to pass a ball cleared by Freiburg back to Nübel from the halfway line, but the keeper was far out of his goal and couldn’t reach the ball – corner. The sports club uses this for leadership. Matthias Ginter headed the ball towards the goal, where Eggestein made an ice-cold save.
VfB was now challenged, but in front of national coach Julian Nagelsmann it was very difficult for a long time to put themselves in the spotlight against the Freiburg defense, which was strongly organized by Ginter. It wasn’t until the 40th minute that the Swabians had their first real chance. After Stiller won the ball high, Undav served Ermedin Demirovic at the penalty spot, who heaved the ball just over the crossbar (40th). A minute later, the attacker failed to correctly hit a backheel cross. Shortly before the break, a left-footed shot from Leweling just missed the far post (44′). Undav had the chance to equalize almost at the half-time whistle, but the national player was blocked by Igor Matanovic at the last moment.
Führich missed the equalizer for VfB
Both teams started the second half without making any substitutions. And VfB was immediately in the game. Leweling fed Chris Führich, who, despite having plenty of space, finished too hastily – over (48′). Compared to the initial phase in the first half, there was now a lot more speed. On the other hand, Manzambi’s shot was decisively blocked (51′).
Afterwards, the guests managed to take some of the pace out of the game. A little out of nowhere there was a great chance to make it 1-1, but Stiller couldn’t get the ball past Freiburg keeper Florian Müller from close range (60′). Two minutes later, Stiller did celebrate – but only briefly. The midfielder put the ball exactly into the right corner after being put down. Because Demirovic had previously been offside, the goal did not count.
Suzuki forgives – Undav scores
The encounter was now an open exchange of blows. First, Ginter “stole” the ball from two better-positioned teammates from a Grifo free kick (65th). Then Yuiko Suzuki missed a great opportunity to make it 2-0 when his shot was blocked by Ramon Hendriks at the last moment. On the following counterattack, substitute Bilal El Khannouss drove the ball across half the field and fed Undav, who fired in from a half-right position to equalize.
The momentum was now with VfB. El Khannouss repeatedly stimulated the Swabians’ game, while the Freiburg team no longer appeared on the offensive very often. Great luck for Freiburg in the 82nd minute: Undav looked for Demirovic with a cross pass in the center, Phillipp Lienhart made an unfortunate deflection and keeper Müller was able to direct the ball onto the post with his fingertips (82nd).
A minute before the end, the same combination as the equalizer: El Khannouss to Undav – but this time just over. In stoppage time, Führich shot into the far corner, Müller dived and saved for a corner. With the last action of regular time, VfB almost scored the winning goal. El Khannouss duped Lienhart on the wing and laid it off for Undav, who was free-standing and aimed too centrally to overcome Müller. The game went into overtime.
Höler’s goal is not recognized
In the first minute of extra time, substitute Lucas Höler tipped the ball into the Stuttgart goal, but was whistled back by referee Welz – presumably because of his action against Jeff Chabot. SC coach Schuster and expert Bastian Schweinsteiger agreed after the game that it was a bad decision. Five minutes later it was VfB again. And El Khannouss initiated again. His ball reached Undav, who served Führich exemplary, but his shot only hit the post. In the 104th minute Müller was there again. The Freiburg keeper parried against El Khannouss with a world-class reflex.
In the 108th minute, after a corner from Maxi Mittelstädt, the Freiburg penalty area was ablaze, but the sports club’s defense was able to clear the ball by joining forces. Everything smelled like a penalty shootout, but then Tiago Tomas turned the stadium into a madhouse with his goal. The Joker put a cross pass from Badredine Bouanani into the Freiburg goal with his heel. Ultimately it was the goal that led VfB to the final again.
SC Freiburg before the next English week
In the final, FC Bayern, the outstanding team of the season, awaits VfB Stuttgart. The Munich team won 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday evening. The final in Berlin will take place on May 23rd (8 p.m.).
VfB continues in the Bundesliga next Sunday with the home game against Werder Bremen (3:30 p.m.). Two hours later, the Freiburg team face Borussia Dortmund. Next week the South Baden team will play the first leg of the semi-final of the Europa League at Sporting Braga (April 30th, 9 p.m.).
