2. Bundesliga
VfB Stuttgart won the 2024/25 DFB Cup after beating third-division champions Arminia Bielefeld 4-2 in the final in Berlin on Saturday.
Bielefeld 2-4 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Woltemade 15’ (assist: Stiller), 0-2 Millot 22’ (assist: Undav), 0-3 Undav 28’ (assist: Stiller), 0-4 Millot (66'), 1-4 Kania 82' (assist: Lannert), 2-4 Vagnoman (o.g. 85')
As the Bundesliga side, Stuttgart went into the showpiece as firm favourites on paper, even if Bielefeld had knocked out four top-flight sides on their way to this decider. Arminia were unfazed by their opponents early on, with Louis Oppie drilling a shot at goal inside the first 25 seconds that Noah Sarenren Bazee only narrowly missed turning in. The same player should have put Bielefeld ahead on 11 minutes following a strong run down the left by Joel Grodowski, whose cut-back went to the unmarked forward, but he could only blaze his shot off the crossbar from close range. Stuttgart were in no mood to show any mercy and soon went in front when Nick Woltemade rolled his marker to convert Angelo Stiller’s fine pass. It was 2-0 a short while later after a defensive mix-up allowed Deniz Undav to run through and tee up Enzo Millot for a simple finish, and VfB took a 3-0 lead into the break when Stiller set up Undav too all but put the result beyond any doubt.
Woltemade and Undav both had good chances early in the second period to add further gloss to the scoreline but were unable to make the most of them. Millot eventually delivered the knockout blow midway through the half, collecting a loose pass from Oppie before sprinting into the box and curling his side’s fourth goal into the far corner. VfB had the ball in the net again a few minutes after that but Atakan Karazor’s close-range header following a corner was rightly ruled out for offside. Bielefeld very nearly pulled one back when Stefano Russo’s powerful strike went through a crowded box and drew a brilliant reflex save from Alexander Nübel. The closing stages were more nervy than perhaps might have been expected after Julian Kania flicked in just moments after taking to the pitch, followed by Josha Vagnoman heading into his own net just four minutes later. However, Stuttgart held on to claim their forth DFB Cup crown and a place in next season's UEFA Europa League.
Teams
Bielefeld: Kersken - Hagmann (Lannert 46'), Großer, Schneider, Oppie - Russo - Corboz (c), Schreck (Young 46') - Sarenren Bazee (Felix 59'), Wörl (Kunze 84') - Grodowski (Kania 80')
Unused subs: Oppermann, Biankadi, Schroers, Boujellab
Out: Uldrikis (knee)
Coach: Mitch Kniat
Stuttgart: Nübel - Vagnoman, Chabot (Jeltsch 76'), Jaquez, Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller (Nartey 87') - Millot (Demirović 69'), Undav, Führich (Hendriks 68') - Woltemade
Unused subs: Bredlow, Keitel, Stenzel, Leweling, Bruun Larsen
Out: Chase (groin), Keitel (thigh), Raimund (thigh), Stergiou (foot)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
As it happened!
A final cross comes in from Oppie on the left... straight into the hands of Nübel.
Almost 3-4! After a corner, Kunze turns and shoots from six metres out. Nübel can only parry the ball forward, where Felix follows up. But in the end, Nübel gets hold of the ball.
There will be an added five minutes for Bielefeld to stage what would be the comeback of comebacks!
Arminia are now doing everything they can to make up their deficit, hoiking the ball up field and chasing after it with utter determination. They're leaving it all out there on the pitch!
All of a sudden it's 2-4 here after Vagnoamn fluffs his intended header down for Nübel. The ball ends up in the back of the net and Bielefeld are back in this! Can they keep it up and force extra time?
Undaz shoots from 14 metres out on the right, and a Bielefeld player deflects the ball towards his own goal – but it flies just over the crossbar.
Russo breaks into the area on the right and fires off a shot that gives Nübel his biggest test of the match so far. But he parries well for a corner, after which he is drawn into a reflex save at his near post as Schneider fires from close range.
Bielefeld push forward and take a seriers of shots, each of which is blocked by a different defender as Stuttgart show that scoring goals isn't their only talent.
Stuttgart skipper Karazor heads home after Chabot had flicked on Stiller's corner, but the score remains 0-4 as the strike is ruled out for offside.
Bielefeld knock the ball around on the edge of the area before Rosso has a crack from distance - right into the face of Chabot, who goes down and requires treatment but is ok to continue.
A good opportunity for Arminia. Young beats Undav on the left side of the penalty area, passes back from the byline and Grodowski gets a shot off from the edge of the box. But it flies over the frame.
On the edge of the area, Undav produces a spectacular move, flicking the ball over his head and turning towards goal. However, he takes too long to shoot and ends up laying it off for Woltemade, but it ends up with Führich, who blazes over.
Stuttgart cut quickly through the middle of the park with two passes. Stiller finding Millot, who sets up Undav, but his right-footed shot from 18 metres out grazes the right post.
Stuttgart look to pick up where they left off in the first half as Mittelstädt breaks down the left, using pace and strength to make it to the byline. Although his cut-back finds no takers, Stuttgart are looking dangerous.
Bielefeld boss Kniat rings two changes at half-time - can they make the difference and get the 3. Liga side back into this match?
Bielfeld have their foot on the ball but, with Stuttgart sitting back calmly, are struggling to break the lines.
There will be two additional minutes of play.
In the penalty area, Woltemade receives the ball from Führich with his back to goal. He turns and snaps off a shot, which is deflected for a corner.
The rangy striker powers through on the right, showcasing his pace to reach byline. But his cross is blocked for a corner and no danger comes of it.
Stuttgart slow play down and knock the ball around a bit, but Bielefeld aren't giving up - they're still looking to get forward at every opportunity.
The mercurial right winger breaks down his flank once again and looks to pick out a teammate at the near post. No danger ensues, but Sarenren Bazee is looking like the danger man for Bielefeld.
Three-nil down after just half an hour, Bielefeld must be reeling. Can they find a way back into this match?
Vagnoman goes into the referee's book for running at full speed into Kersken, who had come out of his goal, after a long ball.
Sarenren Bazee slides into a tackle on Chabot and sees yellow.
Bielefeld attack quickly down the right once more. Sarenren Bazee lays the ball back to the penalty spot in the box, but Karazor clears before an Arminia player can get a shot off.
Bielefeld was the more attacking team in the first quarter of an hour, enjoying almost 60 percent possession and a huge chance through Sarenren Bazee, who hit the crossbar. But Stuttgart took their chance!
Stiller lines up a free-kick from the right half-space but before anything can come of it, the flag goes up for offside.
Arminia break down the left through Grodowski and break into the area. A couple of deft lay-offs leave Sarenren Bazee unmarked in front of goal - and he blasts it off the frame. That should have been the opener for the 3. Liga champions!
Sarenren Bazee runs onto a long ball down the right wing. He then plays a sharp, low ball into the centre, where Grodowski slides in but is unable to get his effort on target.
From the resulting re-start, Bielfeld get forward quickly with a break down the left and, although the move comes to nothing, the minnows' attacking intent is very clear.
A long throw makes it into Bielefeld's area and Stiller gets a head on it, but his effort lacks the power to worry Kersken.