Randal Kolo Muani seals Eintracht Frankfurt's DFB Cup final place with victory over VfB Stuttgart
Randal Kolo Muani was on the scoresheet as Eintracht Frankfurt came from behind to beat VfB Stuttgart 3-2 to book a DFB Cup final date with RB Leipzig in Berlin on 3 June.
Stuttgart were unbeaten in five games at kick-off, having improved considerably since Sebastian Hoeneß took over as head coach, and they began with the look of a team enjoying their new-found confidence – especially against a Frankfurt side with just one win in their last 12 competitive games. Tiago Tomas fired off an early warning shot from distance that Kevin Trapp saved comfortably, but there was nothing the Eintracht goalkeeper could do about the Portuguese youngster's next effort, which he lashed in off the near post from Josha Vagnoman's pass. Silas was thwarted by Trapp a short while later and Tomas could only find the side netting from a tight angle after the Frankfurt custodian parried Vagnoman's long-range drive into his path at the end of a largely one-sided first half.
Daichi Kamada skewed a shot wide from Mario Götze's pass early in the second period as the visitors emerged from the break with renewed purpose. They were soon rewarded too, when Kolo Muani brilliantly cushioned a cross at the back post for Evan Ndicka to lash in and level the score. They added a second just four minutes later, Kamada turning the game on its head when he jinked inside Waldemar Anton and struck a low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. Kolo Muani sliced a volley wide at the back post as Frankfurt tried to kill the game off, and the Frenchman did eventually add his name to the scoresheet from the penalty spot after Bredlow tripped him following a textbook counter-attack. If it seemed like game over at that point, Stuttgart had other ideas and reduced the arrears through Enzo Millot's deflected drive. Borna Sosa's sending off a short while later did little to help their cause as Frankfurt held on to take their place in the showpiece in June.
Match stats
Tomas' goal was his third in 27 competitive appearances for Stuttgart this season.
Nidcka scored his first ever goal in the DFB Cup and his 12th overall for Frankfurt.
Kolo Muani is this season's leading scorer in the DFB Cup with six. Leipzig's Timo Werner has five, followed by Kamada on four.
Frankfurt won the DFB Cup for the fifth time in their history in 2017/18. They are three-time runners-up.
Stuttgart have five minutes to force extra time...
85'
Sosa sent off!
Nightmare for Stuttgart. Already on a booking, Sosa is shown his marching orders for a rash challenge on Buta. Just when it felt like the momentum was shifting...
Millot scores via deflection to pull Stuttgart back to within one goal of levelling. The decibel levels inside the stadium are suddenly back to first-half levels...
Stuttgart are going all-out attack with the introduction of Führich. Lindstrom replaces Götze, a DFB Cup winner with Dortmund and Bayern, in a like-for-like change in the Frankfurt attack.
Kolo Muani bides his time, before stroking his spot-kick out of Bredlow's reach. That all stemmed from a lightning break from Kamada, who selflessly awaited Kolo Muani's run, rather than taking on a shot himself.
Bredlow hauls down Kolo Muani, who will take the penalty...
74'
Chance!
Sosa with a trademark cross from the left. Endo's completely unmarked, but heads tamely at Trapp from 11 yards.
Another Kamada highlight
Kamada's scored some big goals for Frankfurt, but that one is right up there. It's his fourth in this season's DFB Cup and career-best 14th for a single campaign in all competitions. The Japan star will move on to pastures new in the summer, after five years at the club.
A nervy moment for Stuttgart as Ebimbe steers a Lenz cross back across goal for Kolo Muani, who balloons over at the far post. It wouldn't have counted, though. Ebimbe was offside.
67'
Frankfurt take charge
Kamada's goal has really knocked the stuffing out of the Stuttgart players. If Eintracht get another, you feel it will be curtains for the hosts...
63'
Double change
Attacking change from Hoeneß as Millot replaces Anton. Tiago also makes way, having indicated some sort of injury to the bench. Coulibaly is his replacement.
The Stuttgart defender, who was a doubt with a stomach bug before the game, races off down the tunnel. He won't be coming back on. VfB temporarily down to 10 men...
58'
It's not over yet
Just a reminder that we could have extra time and penalties, if this ends all square after 90 minutes. Can Stuttgart find a response to Frankfurt's quick one-two?
55'
And now Frankfurt lead!
Some turnaround in Stuttgart. Kamada beats Anton to the punch midway through the VfB half. He runs into space, cutting the ball onto his right foot before squeezing a low strike through the legs of a Stuttgart defender and into the bottom corner.
Eintracht get their reward early in the second half. Lenz's cross is flicked into the path of Kolo Muani to the right of Bredlow's goal. He touches it back to Ndicka, who drives low and hard into the back of the net. Game on!
Quick thinking from Götze to feed the unmarked Kamada on the penalty spot, but the Japan international doesn't make a full connection and his shot whistles wide.
46'
Tactical change
Rode makes way for Buta, which suggests Glasner is switching to a four-man defence.
Tiago Tomas' strike is the difference between the sides at the break, with a place in the DFB Cup final on the line. Stuttgart have been superb, but there are signs that Frankfurt are growing into the contest.
So close to a second Stuttgart goal. Vagnoman cuts inside and tests Trapp with a low shot from 18 yards. The Frankfurt keeper can only parry, but recovers his footing and is able to do just enough to stop Tomas finding the target with the follow-up.
43'
Kamada!
Another encouraging sign for Frankfurt as Dina Ebimbe has time and space to cushion a ball back into the danger zone. Kamada meets it on the volley, but fires straight at Bredlow.
41'
Over!
Lenz bends a free-kick into the Stuttgart area. Ndicka meets it, but is right underneath the ball and heads over.
39'
Tame effort
Götze drives at the Frankfurt defence, before laying the ball inside. Rode lets it run for Lenz, whose first-time strike lacks conviction and is blocked behind for a corner that comes to nothing.
Stuttgart on the up
VfB continue to get at the Frankfurt defence. They do not look like a team that's fighting relegation in the Bundesliga.
Ito wins back possession and picks out Silas in the Frankfurt area with another brilliant pass. He tries to squeeze his shot through the legs of Trapp, who does really well to block.
33'
Over from Rode!
Frankfurt go very close to an equaliser as Rode connects with Kolo Muani's cut-back, but places the ball just over the crossbar. Glasner applauds the idea.
The Stuttgart man goes down again. Having seen the replay of the initial incident, it's his right ankle that's the problem. Dan-Axel Zagadou will be his replacement.
28'
Normal service resumed
Mavropanos returns to the field, much to the delight of the home fans. As he does, Lenz takes advantage of space in the VfB defence to whip an inviting ball into the area - but there are no takers.
25'
Man down!
Mavropanos stays down after a clash of shins as he went to shoot from range. The Greek defender looks to be in some pain...
Power, precision...
and a deserved lead for Stuttgart, thanks to Tomas' first DFB Cup goal.
Stuttgart come again, this time up the left-hand side. Tomas cuts in and lets fly, but the shot is blocked. Frankfurt are on the ropes.
18'
Stuttgart lead!
The Stuttgart fans are celebrating at the Mercedes-Benz Arena! Anton plays an outrageous pass out from the back towards Vagnoman in the Frankfurt half. He looks up and sees no one in the centre, so instead pulls the ball back for Tomas. The Sporting Lisbon loanee shows a superb first touch with the sole of his right boot, before lashing into the back of the net off the inside of Trapp's near post. Brilliant goal.
Just a reminder that Stuttgart are unbeaten in five matches since Hoeneß came in. He has them really well drilled, as Frankfurt are learning first hand.
9'
Third booking
And now it's Guirassy, after a tangle on halfway with Hasebe. It's a real cauldron of noise in Stuttgart, which is contributing to the feisty start.
The referee waves play on after Silas appears to be felled. Tomas takes on a shot from a central position, but he's a good 25 yards from goal and doesn't seriously trouble Trapp.
5'
Sow into the book
The Frankfurt central midfielder pulls down Mavropanos. Very early in the game to concede two bookings...
Who will face Leipzig in the DFB Cup final on 3 June? We're about to find out...
Kick-off!
Teams out
It's bouncing at the Mercedes-Benz Arena as the teams pose for the official pre-match photographs.
More on those teams
The returns of Kolo Muani up front, Sow in midfield and Ndicka in defence are a major boost for Frankfurt, giving them three of their preferred starting XI who were absent at the weekend. Meanwhile, Guirassy and Anton are in the side for Stuttgart, as expected.
These two last locked horns on Matchday 24 on 11 March this year. Sebastian Rode fired the Eagles in front that day, but Silas struck a 75th-minute equaliser to take share of the points.
Head to head
This will be the fourth DFB Cup meeting between these teams. Ominously from a Frankfurt perspective, the respective home side has won on each of the three previous occasions, the most recent of which was a 3-2 second-round triumph for VfB in 1998. There have been 100 games between these teams in the Bundesliga - and Stuttgart hold the edge there too. They have 42 wins to Frankfurt's 35, with 23 draws.
Positive news for Stuttgart
Serhou Guirassy was substituted off on 56 minutes with an injury at the weekend but head coach Sebastian Hoeneß said "we're assuming he'll be an option for the squad" at his pre-match press conference yesterday. Centre-back Waldemar Anton missed training in the week with a stomach upset but is likewise expected to be fit to feature here.
Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner indicated at his pre-match press conference that "things look good" for star striker Randal Kolo Muani, who missed Saturday's 1-1 draw with Augsburg through injury. Djibril Sow is available again after pulling out of the warm-up at the weekend after feeling unwell, while Evan Ndicka is set to make a comeback from a hip complaint.
A place in the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Saturday 3 June is the prize for the winning team this evening. There they will face defending champions RB Leipzig, who sent out a statement of their intent with a 5-1 thrashing of Freiburg in the other semi-final yesterday. Catch highlights of that Dani Olmo-inspired victory in the tweet below.
Hello and welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live match coverage of this DFB Cup semi-final between VfB Stuttgart and 2018 winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
