Millot with a double pack
© Imago
VfB Stuttgart won the DFB Cup with a significant victory against Arminia Bielefeld, but in the final duel with the third division team was sweating again. The team of coach Sebastian Hoeneß prevailed 4-2 (3-0) in Berlin. Already after the one -sided first half with the gates of Nick Woltemade (15th minute), Enzo Millot (22nd) and Deniz Undav (28th), the game had practically run in front of 74,036 spectators in the sold -out Olympic Stadium. After the change of sides, Millot (66th) increased to 4: 0, before Julian Kania (82nd) and an own goal of Josha Vagnoman (85.) shortened for the third division champion and because of suddenly oppressive Arminen came up.
Ultimately, a changeable season of the Swabians ended, in which, unlike in this final, not everything went as desired, with the big happy ending. Despite the Bundesligaplatz nine, VfB can now look forward to atmospheric Europa League evenings in the next season.
With the first title since the 2007 championship, the eleven crowns the development under Hoeneß. Two years ago the path had started with the almost avoided descent. Then Dieter Hoeneß’s son led the Swabians to the runner -up championship and now to the fourth cup victory after 1954, 1958 and 1997.
After a quarter of an hour, striker Woltemade opened the VfB Torfest with the first goal when he ran towards the Arminen goal alone and stayed cool. Bielefeld’s goalkeeper Jonas Kersken was still on, but could not prevent the early deficit for the first finalist from the 3rd division in 24 years.
At 2: 0, the Swabians countered the Bielefeld after a corner. Undav kept the overview that Millot only had to insert. Undav quickly sparked even more party mood among VfB supporters with his goal. At all three goals in the first half, Stuttgart’s clock Angelo Stiller was decisively involved and impressively underlined why the Stuttgarters had hoped so much for him. Due to a ligament injury, his commitment had been on the brink until the final day.
The game was decided at halftime. There has not yet been a higher breaks than in the 82nd DFB Cup final. In view of the Stuttgart superiority, the interim result could have been even higher. Even though it was the Arminen who should have taken the lead. With the huge exuberant chance of Noah Joel Sarenren Bazeee, who only hit the crossbar from five meters (12th), the bitter evening for the Bielefeld began. The team of coach Mitch Kniat had previously thrown four first and a second division team from the cup competition.
In front of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, Joachim Löw or VfB icons such as Giovane Elber and Krasimir Balakov, VfB continued to put pressure on in the second half. Millot had the Stuttgart cheer again with his second goal. The goal of Kania and the own goal of Vagnoman made the Arminen fans bounce and hope in the curve. However, the final offensive had no further effect.