Kolo Muani fires Frankfurt into DFB Cup final

VfB Stuttgart 2-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Tomas 19' (assist: Vagnoman), 1-1 Ndicka 51' (assist: Kolo Muani), 1-2 Kamada (55'), 1-3 Kolo Muani (pen. 77'), 2-3 Millot (83')
Sent off: Sosa (86')

Stuttgart were unbeaten in five games at kick-off, having improved considerably since Sebastian Hoeneß took over as head coach, and they began with the look of a team enjoying their new-found confidence – especially against a Frankfurt side with just one win in their last 12 competitive games. Tiago Tomas fired off an early warning shot from distance that Kevin Trapp saved comfortably, but there was nothing the Eintracht goalkeeper could do about the Portuguese youngster's next effort, which he lashed in off the near post from Josha Vagnoman's pass. Silas was thwarted by Trapp a short while later and Tomas could only find the side netting from a tight angle after the Frankfurt custodian parried Vagnoman's long-range drive into his path at the end of a largely one-sided first half.

Daichi Kamada skewed a shot wide from Mario Götze's pass early in the second period as the visitors emerged from the break with renewed purpose. They were soon rewarded too, when Kolo Muani brilliantly cushioned a cross at the back post for Evan Ndicka to lash in and level the score. They added a second just four minutes later, Kamada turning the game on its head when he jinked inside Waldemar Anton and struck a low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. Kolo Muani sliced a volley wide at the back post as Frankfurt tried to kill the game off, and the Frenchman did eventually add his name to the scoresheet from the penalty spot after Bredlow tripped him following a textbook counter-attack. If it seemed like game over at that point, Stuttgart had other ideas and reduced the arrears through Enzo Millot's deflected drive. Borna Sosa's sending off a short while later did little to help their cause as Frankfurt held on to take their place in the showpiece in June. 

• Tomas' goal was his third in 27 competitive appearances for Stuttgart this season.
• Nidcka scored his first ever goal in the DFB Cup and his 12th overall for Frankfurt.
• Kolo Muani is this season's leading scorer in the DFB Cup with six. Leipzig's Timo Werner has five, followed by Kamada on four.
• Frankfurt won the DFB Cup for the fifth time in their history in 2017/18. They are three-time runners-up.
• Götze lifted two DFB Cups with Borussia Dortmund, as well as two as a Bayern Munich player.
• VfB have won just one of their last 11 competitive meetings with Frankfurt (D4, L6).

Teams

Stuttgart: Bredlow - Mavropanos (Zagadou 31'), Ito, Anton (Millot 63') - Vagnoman, Karazor, Endo (c) (Führich 78'), Sosa - Tomas (Coulibaly 63'), Guirassy, Silas
Unused subs: Müller, Perea, Stenzel, Haraguchi, Nartey
Out: -
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Frankfurt: Trapp - Tuta, Haseba, Ndicka - Dina Ebimbe, Rode (c) (Buta 46'), Lenz - Kamada, Götze (Lindstrom 78'), Kolo Muani (Borre 83')
Unused subs: Ramaj, Chandler, Toure, Aaronson, Knauff, Alario
Out: Jakic (calf), Max (thigh), Smolcic (knee)
Coach: Oliver Glasner

As it happened!