Eintracht Frankfurt recovers against VfB Stuttgart and is a cup finalist

Eintracht Frankfurt is in the final of the German Cup tournament. VfB Stuttgart – which still has to make every effort to maintain its position in the Bundesliga – was defeated 2-3 in a duel with two faces. RB Leipzig is the opponent in the final.

The result was not as logical as it may seem. Frankfurt – winner of the Europa League in 2022 – is in a disappointing ninth place in the competition. In addition, the Frankfurters have not booked a victory in the Bundesliga since February.

At VfB Stuttgart, light is shining on the horizon. In April, the club came last in the league, but after the dismissal of coach Bruno Labbadia (and the arrival of Sebastian Hoeness), Stuttgart has taken the road up. It is currently in a ‘safe’ fifteenth place.

The current form of both teams was reflected in optima forma during the first half on Wednesday evening. Stuttgart played with confidence and took the lead within twenty minutes through Tiago Tomás.

Frankfurt – which created little after a few small moments – was allowed to thank goalkeeper Kevin Trapp that it was not yet 3-0 before the break. First he called a halt to striker Serhou Guirassy, ​​who came at him alone, and then the keeper prevented Tomás from making his second.

In the second half it became clear how important those saves were, because Frankfurt came out very differently. In fact, the team was ahead in no time. Five minutes after the break, defender Evan N’Dicka equalized and shortly afterwards Daichi Kamada put Frankfurt ahead.

In contrast to the first half, Stuttgart could not make a fist at all. Frankfurt was lurking for the switch and even reached 3-1 fifteen minutes before the end. Stuttgart keeper Fabian Bredlow knocked down Randal Kolo Muani, who had broken through, inside the penalty area. The same Muani used the penalty kick.

Stuttgart made it even more exciting in the final phase: a deflected shot from Borna Sosa – who had to leave the field just before the end with a red card (twice yellow) – fell in.

In the absolute final seconds, referee Daniel Schlager was called aside by the VAR. He saw a possible penalty kick after an unfortunate handball in the defense of Frankfurt. After extensively reviewing the images, the referee stuck to his decision: no penalty kick. And no extra time, it remained 2-3.

Eintracht Frankfurt will compete in the final of the DFB-Pokal on June 3 against RB Leipzig, which won impressively (5-1) against SC Freiburg on Tuesday evening.