Holstein Kiel hosts VfB Stuttgart in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. The second division club bravely held out for a long time on a very cold evening. But an offensive professional from the Swabians ensures the favorite’s victory.
VfB Stuttgart did not allow themselves to be duped in the ice-cold north like FC Bayern once did and mastered their next task in the DFB Cup. The defending champion won 3-0 (0-0) at second division club Holstein Kiel and reached the semi-finals for the third time in four seasons under the direction of coach Sebastian Hoeneß.
Thanks to goals from Deniz Undav (56th minute), Chris Führich (89th) and the former Kieler Atakan Karazor (90th + 2) in front of 15,034 spectators in the sold-out Holstein Stadium, the Swabian Champions League candidate also defied the adverse sub-zero temperatures and did not allow Kiel to have another cup sensation. The Bundesliga relegated team knocked the record winners from Munich out of the competition almost five years ago.
“It wasn’t easy. The conditions were difficult, we adapted well to it. In the end, what counts is that we are one round further,” said Führich, who was the man of the game according to ZDF expert Hanno Balitsch. His colleague Undav said after the game: “We tried to be ice-cold and knew what to expect. At the beginning we were a bit too wild with the ball. In the cup it’s important to progress.”
While Hoeneß did not have to record any short-term absences, the hosts were surprisingly missing Steven Skrzybski. The day before, as a guest at the press conference, the Kiel captain confirmed how much anticipation there was for the game. “That’s what every footballer is passionate about. A game like that. Floodlights. Cup. That’s why you became a footballer as a child and were excited about it,” the attacker said. However, he had to miss the game due to a muscular injury in the final training session.
Good start from Kiel against VfB
The Kiel team got into the game well even without their captain and cleverly used some switching actions for promising shots on goal by Adrian Kapralik (8th) and Andu Kelati (11th).
The Stuttgart team had a bit of a hard time at first, but they perked up a bit despite the icy conditions. Führich and Undav (25th) tried in vain to make it 1-0 with a header before the VfB lead almost came about due to cup goalkeeper Timon Weiner’s carelessness, as a cross slipped through his fingers. But Bilal El Khannous’ shot was blocked.
The entertainment on the field was rather mediocre. An animal speedster provided variety. A few minutes after the half-time whistle, a rabbit ran across the lawn and then disappeared again. The spectators in the sold-out Holstein Stadium cheered the animal after both teams went into the break goalless.
In this cup season, the Kiel team, who had a mixed performance in the league, prevailed on penalties away against the Bundesliga clubs VfL Wolfsburg (1-0) and then Hamburger SV. The defending champion Stuttgart, who is in good form and has only lost one of seven competitive games since the turn of the year, has so far defeated the second division clubs Eintracht Braunschweig and VfL Bochum in the cup, as well as their first division rivals 1. FSV Mainz 05 in between.
The guests started the second half much more actively. Führich was awarded a free kick after a duel with Kiel’s Kasper Davidsen. From the resulting cross, VfB captain and former Kiel player Atakan Karazor headed the ball to Undav in the penalty area. The national player persevered and poked the ball into the goal.
In the final phase, the Kiel team became dangerous again, but the defending champions made everything clear with their two late goals. “It wasn’t without its problems, it was very rough,” said VfB coach Hoeneß after the game about the temperatures in Kiel.
jwo with dpa
