DFB POKAL PLAYER RATINGS | VfB Stuttgart 2-1 Freiburg (AET) – A late Tiago Tomas goals sends Stuttgart to the DFB Pokal final for a second year running

Notably, Florian Müller kept his place in Die Breisgauer’s Pokal lineup ahead of Noah Atubolu. After a fiery start to the game in which referee Tobias Welz dished out four yellow cards in the opening 18 minutes, Freiburg felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Maximilian Eggestein broke through and appeared to be tripped by his marker. The 29-year-old stayed on his feet, though, and managed to get a shot away, much to his own detriment.

Eggestein soon found redemption, giving his side the lead with an instinctive finish. Matthias Ginter headed towards the goal from a Vincenzo Grifo corner, and with Eggestein left unmarked, he flicked the ball past Alexander Nübel with ease. Stuttgart finally began to assert themselves towards the closing stages of a first half largely dominated by Julian Schüster’s men, but squandered three good chances before the half-time whistle.

Ermedin Demirović, Jamie Leweling and Deniz Undav all failed to convert their efforts. The hosts began the second half as they finished the first and created another chance to equalise following a quick break down the right. Leweling drilled the ball across the box to Chris Führich, who was slightly outstretched and therefore unable to get a strong enough touch to send the ball goalward.

They continued to push and, on the hour mark, forced Florian Müller into his first save of the evening, denying Angelo Stiller on the goal line. The German midfielder did have the ball in the net a minute later, though, with a superb finish from outside the box. The celebrations were cut short, however, as Demirović had strayed just offside during the build-up.