2. Bundesliga
Penalty drama as Stuttgart go through
Ermedin Demirović struck twice and Nick Woltemade was also on target as reigning holders VfB Stuttgart edged second-tier Eintracht Braunschweig 8-7 on penalties to reach the second round of the DFB Cup on Tuesday, after the match ended 4-4 after extra time.
Braunschweig 4-4 Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Köhler (8’), 1-1 Demirović (11’), 1-2 Demirović (60’), 2-2 Sanchez (77’), 3-2 Sanchez (85'), 3-3 Woltemade (89'), 3-4 Ba (o.g. 94'), 4-4 Conteh (105')
Having taken six points from their opening three Bundesliga 2 games of the season, Braunschweig began in a confident mood and immediately went on the front foot. They got behind the Stuttgart defence a couple of times early on and their bold approach was rewarded with a goal in the eighth minute when Sven Köhler's powerful drive from distance caught Alexander Nübel off guard.
Sebastian Hoeneß’s side responded straight away though, with Ermedin Demirović stooping to head in Maximilian Mittelstädt’s pinpoint cross from the left. The latter was involved again in Stuttgart’s next chance, cutting the ball back for Lorenz Assignon, whose shot was saved by Ron-Thorben Hoffmann.
Summer signing Tiago Tomás had an effort blocked as half-time approached, and at the other end, Nübel was more alert to keep out another long-range Köhler effort to keep the game level at the interval.
Erencan Yardımcı had a glorious chance to put the home side in front early in the second half, robbing Ramon Hendriks of the ball and bursting into the box, but he miscued his finish with just Nübel to beat and the ball rolled harmlessly wide.
It would prove to be a costly miss as, shortly afterwards, Angelo Stiller broke free down the left and sent a low cross into the middle that left Demirović with a simple tap-in from the edge of the six-yard box.
Hoeneß subsequently brought on Germany internationals Nick Woltemade and Jamie Leweling as he sought to see the result over the line, but Braunschweig had other ideas.
With the clock ticking down, Fabio Di Michele Sánchez lashed in an unstoppable left-footed strike from a tight angle inside the six-yard box. The same player repeated the trick a few minutes later, albeit from further out, his thunderbolt seemingly sending the Lions through.
More was to come though, as Woltemade poked in a last-gasp equaliser following good work from Leweling, sending the tie to extra time. Tomás then produced a sublime moment of skill early on, his double back-heel taking him past his marker on the right to cross into the middle, where Sanoussy Ba turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Demirović.
The drama continued as players tired, with Christian Conteh levelling matters again after his turn bamboozled Finn Jeltsch. Despite further chances for both sides neither was able to score again, meaning penalties were needed to decide the outcome. Nübel emerged as the hero, saving three times to send Stuttgart into the second round.
Match stats
- Stuttgart are four-time DFB Cup winners and three-time runners-up. They haven't lost in the first round since a 2-0 defeat to 3. Liga's Hansa Rostock in 2018/19.
- Woltemade topped last season's cup scoring charts with five goals in as many games.
- Hoeneß has won 10 of 13 cup games as Stuttgart head coach, only losing 2022/23 semi-final and 2023/24 quarter-final ties to Eintracht Frankfurt (runners-up that season) and Bayer Leverkusen (eventual winners) respectively.
- Braunschweig have gone out in the opening round in 13 of the last 21 seasons, including four in the last five alone.
- The teams met in the 1985/86 first round, with a Stuttgart team featuring Jürgen Klinsmann recording a 6-3 home victory. VfB also won their 2015/16 last-16 and 1980/81 third-round meetings (both 3-2 after extra-time).
Braunschweig: Hoffmann - Frenkert, Ehlers, Breunig (Conteh 63') - Aydin, Heußer (Ba 73'), Köhler (c) (Polter 90'+1), Marie, Sanchez (Bell Bell 95') – Gomez - Yardımcı (Szabó 63')
Unused subs: Rajkovačić, Kaufmann, Ould-Chikh, Sané
Out: Jäkel (leg), Krauße (muscle), Raebiger (knee), Tempelmann (leg)
Coach: Heiner Backhaus
Stuttgart: Nübel - Assignon, Jeltsch (Zagadou 115'), Hendriks, Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller (Chema 96') - Tomás (Vagnoman 96'), Undav (Woltemade 71'), Führich (Leweling 71') - Demirović
Unused subs: Bredlow, Stenzel, Nartey, Jovanović
Out: Jaquez (nose), Silas (foot), Stergiou (ankle)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
As it happened!
4 - 4(1 - 1)
Braunschweig
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Stuttgart
vs
Leweling booked for simulation
The Stuttgart winger goes down in the Braunschweig box and appeals for a penalty, but the referee books him for the manner in which he went down.
120' +2
vs
Jamie Leweling
vs
Final moments
Three minutes have been added on at the death here.
vs
Players cramping
Players on both sides are dropping like flies every time the ball goes out of play. They've put in a real shift this evening.
vs
Tempers boil over
After a challenge on Nick Woltemade, tempers flare between the sides. As a result, the referee books the main culprits: Assignon and Conteh.
117'
vs
Lorenz Assignon
117'
vs
Christian Conteh
115'
vs
Dan-Axel Zagadou
Finn Jeltsch
vs
Stuttgart turning the screw
The DFB Cup holders are really putting Braunschweig under the kosh here. Cross after cross is going into the box, but Braunschweig are holding firm for now.
vs
Huge chance for Woltemade
The tall striker does well to fashion some space in the box, but his low effort is saved impressively by Hoffmann.
vs
Just over
From another Stuttgart corner, Woltemade wins the header, but his flicked attempt lands on the roof of the net.
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Early corner
Assignon takes an out-swinger from the right, but Braunschweig win the initial header to clear the danger.
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Going the distance
We're into deep water here; there's to be 15 more minutes to decide things, otherwise it's to penalties.
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So close for Conteh!
Gómez dances past three defenders before feeding Conteh through, but Nübel wins out in the one-on-one that follows. What a chance that was for Braunschweig!
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Added time
Three additional minutes are indicated.
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Conteh delivers a hammer blow!
Braunschweig are back in it, AGAIN! This time, Conteh receives the ball in the box from the left, spins Jeltsch on the spot and smashes it past Nübel from close range. They simply won't give up!
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Off the woodwork!
Frenkert rises highest to meet a free-kick from the left with his head at the far post. He makes a really good connection on the header, but steers it onto the crossbar. There were hearts in mouths for Stuttgart there...
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Changes for both sides
Goalscorer Sanchez leaves the field to rapturous applause to be replaced by Bell Bell. For the leaders, Vagnoman replaces Tomás and Chema comes on to make his debut here.
96'
vs
Chema Andrés
Angelo Stiller
96'
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Josha Vagnoman
Tiago Tomás
95'
vs
Leon Bell Bell
Fabio Di Michele Sanchez
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Unlucky from Ba, but Stuttgart take the lead!
That didn't take long, but it was all about the assist from Tiago Tomás! The Portuguese picks the ball up wide on the right before turning his man with a fantastic touch to free up space for a cross. He puts it in towards Demirović, but Ba, in trying to clear it, unfortunately puts it in his own net.
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And so it begins
Normal time couldn't separate these sides, so it's to be another 30 minutes here.
0 - 0
End of second half
90' +8
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Jeltsch booked
The young centre-back sees yellow for a tactical foul to prevent a Braunschweig counter.
90' +8
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Finn Jeltsch
90' +5
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How has that not gone in?
Stuttgart could've won it at the death then. Woltemade makes a bursting run forwards with the ball and gets into the left side of the penalty area before crossing to Demirović at the far post. The Bosnian has time to pick his spot, but he sends it wide of the right post from a matter of yards out.
90' +4
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Late corner
Marie takes an out-swinger from the right, aiming for the near post, but Stuttgart get it clear.
90'
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Injury time
Seven additional minutes are indicated. Speaking of injuries, Köhler is substituted off after sustaining a knock in the build-up to the Woltemade goal. He is replaced by Polter.
90'
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Sebastian Polter
Sven Köhler
89'
vs
Woltemade silences the home crowd
Braunschweig dared to dream for a moment, but Woltemade has brought them back down to earth. The big centre-forward nods a Mittelstädt cross down to Leweling, who then whips a cross back into Woltemade. The German takes a touch before firing it into the top left corner to make it 3-3.