Tiago Tomas’ 119th-Minute Heel Strike Sends VfB Stuttgart to DFB-Pokal Final
Stuttgart, Germany — In a dramatic DFB-Pokal semifinal that stretched into extra time, VfB Stuttgart secured their place in the final with a 2-1 victory over SC Freiburg, courtesy of a late goal from substitute Tiago Tomas. The Portuguese forward netted the winner in the 119th minute, striking the ball with his heel to convert a cross from Baredine Bouanani and send the holders racing toward a title defense.
The match, played at Stuttgart’s home ground, began cautiously as both sides probed for an opening. Freiburg struck first in the 28th minute when Maximilian Eggestein finished a well-worked move to put the visitors ahead. Stuttgart responded before halftime, with Deniz Undav equalizing in the 70th minute to restore parity and set up a tense second half.
As regulation time expired, the score remained level at 1-1, forcing the contest into extra time. Both teams created chances in the additional 30 minutes, with Freiburg’s Yuito Suzuki coming close to restoring their lead shortly after the break — only to notice Stuttgart launch a swift counterattack that led to Undav’s near-equalizer moments later.
With the shootout looming, Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß turned to his bench, introducing Bouanani and Tomas in the dying moments of the first extra period. The substitution paid off almost immediately. In the 119th minute, Bouanani delivered a cross from the left flank, which Tomas met with a deft heel flick past Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu to seal the win.
The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Stuttgart players and fans, with Tomas tearing off his shirt in joy as he ran toward the corner flag. Freiburg, meanwhile, were left to rue a missed opportunity to reach their first DFB-Pokal final since 2022, having pushed the holders to the brink before falling just short.
The victory confirms Stuttgart’s opponent in the final: FC Bayern Munich. The rematch of last year’s final will take place on May 23 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, where Stuttgart will aim to retain the trophy they won in 2024. Bayern advanced to the final by defeating RB Leipzig in their own semifinal, setting up a high-stakes clash between two of Germany’s most decorated clubs.
For Tomas, the goal represents a breakthrough moment in his Stuttgart career. The 23-year-old, who joined the club in summer 2023, had struggled to establish himself as a regular starter but seized his opportunity when called upon. His heel finish will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most dramatic in recent DFB-Pokal history.
Stuttgart now turn their focus to preparing for the final, where they will face a Bayern side bidding for a domestic double after securing the Bundesliga title earlier in the season. The match in Berlin promises to be a fitting climax to a cup campaign defined by resilience and late drama for the Swabians.
As the players celebrate their hard-fought semifinal win, the road to Berlin is clear. With Tomas’ heel strike echoing through the Mercedes-Benz Arena, VfB Stuttgart have once again written themselves into the DFB-Pokal final — and given their fans reason to believe the journey to glory is far from over.
The DFB-Pokal final will be broadcast live internationally, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 PM local time in Berlin (6:00 PM UTC) on May 23. Fans can follow updates through the official DFB channels and club websites as both teams prepare for what promises to be another memorable chapter in German football’s premier knockout competition.
