Stuttgart reach DFB Cup final

VfB Stuttgart 3-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Stiller 5', 2-0 Woltemade 57' (assist: Demirović), 2-1 Šeško 62' (assist: Orbán), 3-1 Leweling 73' (assist: Woltemade)

Picking up the baton following third-tier Bielefeld's giant-killing heroics against holders Bayer Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Leipzig put on a real first-half spectacle at the MHP Arena. The visitors made a lively start, but were undone inside five minutes when Angelo Stiller crashed in a well-taken volley after Maximilian Mittelstädt's corner had only been half cleared. Ermedin Demirović was unlucky not to add another moments later, with his attempted chip well saved by Maarten Vandevoordt. Loïs Openda twice tested Alexander Nübel as two-time DFB Cup winners Leipzig sought a response. Xavi followed suit from range, before Ridle Baku cut inside and angled a shot wide.

Stuttgart strengthened their grip on the contest early in the second half as Nick Woltemade - having not long tested Vandevoort - capitalised on a mistake by David Raum to nestle a fine effort into the bottom corner for 2-0. Leipzig reduced the arrears almost immediately through Benjamin Šeško's neat finish from an unmarked position inside the VfB penalty area, but Stuttgart successfully negotiated the ensuing wave of pressure before giving themselves daylight. Woltemade was the provider, the Germany U21 forward's flick-on from a corner eventually being bundled over the line by Jamie Leweling. Woltemade and Šeško struck the woodwork as Stuttgart booked their place in the final on a chastening first night at the office for interim Leipzig coach Zsolt Löw.

Match stats 

• Stuttgart have previously won the DFB Cup on three occasions, their most recent success coming back in 1996/97. They last reached the final in 2012/13, losing to Bayern Munich's treble winners.
• Woltemade is this season's joint-leading scorer in the cup, with four goals. 
• Šeško, who has six goals in six DFB Cup games for Leipzig, also has four in this season's edition.
• Stuttgart are the 2024/25 DFB Cup's 14-goal top scorers, ahead of Leipzig (13).
• Havine overseen Bundesliga and Supercup runners-up finishes in 2024, Sebastian Hoeneß's second full season as Stuttgart head coach could end in a first piece of silverware. The semi-final was his 91st competitive game in charge.
• Leipzig's five semi-final appearances is the most of any team since their Bundesliga promotion in 2016.

Teams

Stuttgart: Nübel - Jeltsch, Al-Dakhil, Chabot, Mittelstädt - Karazor (c), Stiller - Leweling (Stergiou 77'), Millot (Rieder 76'), Demirović (Touré 90'+3) - Woltemade
Unseds subs: Bredlow, Jaquez, Stenzel, Führich, Keitel, Undav
Out: Chase (hamstring), Diehl (muscular), Nartey (thigh), Raimund (thigh), Vagnoman (muscular), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Leipzig: Vandevoordt - Nedeljković (Baumgartner 70'), Orbán, Bitshiabu, Raum - Baku (Gomis 80'), Seiwald, Vermeeren, Xavi - Openda, Šeško
Unused subs: Gulácsi, Geertruida, Klostermann, Lukeba, Gebel, Haidara, Poulsen
Out: Henrichs (Achilles), Kampl (ill), Nusa (knee), Ouédraogo (hamstring), Schlager (hamstring)
Coach: Zsolt Lőw

As it happened!