VfB Stuttgart stun Freiburg 2–1 after extra time as Tiago Tomas nets 119th-minute winner to reach DFB-Pokal final
VfB Stuttgart beat SC Freiburg 2–1 after extra time, with Tiago Tomas scoring in the 119th minute to send Stuttgart into the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin on May 23.
VfB Stuttgart advanced to the DFB-Pokal final after a dramatic 2–1 victory over SC Freiburg that was sealed by Tiago Tomas’s 119th‑minute strike. The late winner followed a frantic contest that swung from a defensive mix‑up to calm attacking finishes, and it books Stuttgart a meeting with Bayern Munich in the final in Berlin on May 23. The match produced tense refereeing moments, several clear chances and an explosive atmosphere in the stands.
Tiago Tomas delivers in the dying moments
Tiago Tomas, introduced at the start of extra time, produced the decisive moment in the 119th minute when he turned a delivery from Baredine Bouanani into the net with a deft heel. The goal arrived after a period of intense end‑to‑end play in extra time and immediately sparked wild celebrations among Stuttgart players and supporters. Tomas removed his shirt and lifted the corner flag in jubilation, a scene that underscored the emotional weight of the late strike.
Bouanani, who had been similarly quiet for most of the match, had only been on the pitch for a few seconds before delivering the cross that produced the winner. The timing of both substitutions proved decisive and vindicated the coach’s late changes.
Sequence of the decisive play
The winning move began with quick, forward intent from Stuttgart following a restart in extra time. Bouanani found space on the flank and delivered a low cross that Tomas met with an improvised heel, steering the ball past the goalkeeper. The finish combined composure and improvisation and was the culmination of a frantic final half‑hour that had already seen multiple clear chances for both sides.
That single moment erased the tension built through 118 minutes and left Freiburg with barely enough time to respond.
Defensive lapse handed Freiburg the opener
The game’s opening goal came against the run of the more composed periods and was created by a defensive lapse that invited punishment. A backpass left the Stuttgart defense exposed and allowed Freiburg to win a corner, from which a headed sequence ultimately found Maximilian Eggestein to open the scoring. The sequence underlined how quickly positioning errors can be exploited at this level.
Stuttgart recovered its shape as the first half closed and gradually grew into the contest, erasing the shock of the early setback and reshaping the game around transitions and quick breaks.
Deniz Undav levels with a composed finish observed by Nagelsmann
In the 70th minute Deniz Undav produced a calm, precise finish to bring Stuttgart back on level terms, striking from about a dozen metres after a swift counter. The goal, executed with little visible fuss, was scored in front of Germany’s national coach Julian Nagelsmann, who watched from the stands. Undav’s equaliser changed the momentum and opened the match up, as both teams probed for the next decisive moment.
Undav had further opportunities in the closing stages of regular time; several promising moments were squandered by the slender margins that often separate triumph from disappointment. His movement and touches, however, remained central to Stuttgart’s attacking threat throughout the contest.
Extra time controversies and missed chances
Extra time produced its share of controversy when a goal for Freiburg was ruled out early for an alleged foul, a decision that visibly affected the game’s rhythm. That disallowed strike appeared to settle Freiburg into a more conservative approach, with the visitors seemingly willing to play for penalties rather than chase a late winner. Several high‑quality chances in the added periods, including a strike that hit the post, left the outcome hanging until Tomas’s intervention.
The referee, Tobias Welz, managed a tense affair that included multiple cautions and numerous stoppages, but the match avoided the escalation into broader disciplinary flashpoints.
Atmosphere amplified by pyrotechnics and celebrations
The match atmosphere was charged from the outset, with pyrotechnic displays in the Stuttgart fan section causing a brief delay to the kick‑off. Red smoke and vocal support painted a partisan backdrop that intensified as the game progressed. After the 119th‑minute winner, the decibel level surged; supporters erupted and continued celebrations into the stands, with at least one pyrotechnic device reignited in the aftermath.
Fans and players alike registered the emotional significance of the victory, both for the club’s immediate objective and for the sense of momentum it will carry into the final.
Stuttgart now face Bayern Munich in Berlin on May 23
With this victory VfB Stuttgart have secured their place in the DFB‑Pokal final in Berlin on May 23, where they will face FC Bayern Munich. The result extends Stuttgart’s run in the competition and sets up a high‑profile finale against one of Germany’s dominant teams. Tactical adjustments, late substitutions and the capacity to convert a final‑minute chance were the decisive factors that propelled Stuttgart to the capital.
The club will now prepare for the final hurdle, conscious that the late drama in this semi‑final provides both confidence and lessons ahead of a one‑off match that will decide the cup.
VfB Stuttgart left the field celebrating a hard‑earned victory, while Freiburg were left to rue specific moments that tilted the balance; for Stuttgart, a trip to Berlin offers the chance to convert this dramatic night into silverware.
