In a stunning turn of events, Tiago Tomás delivered a remarkable backheel goal in the 119th minute, securing a 2-1 extra-time victory for Stuttgart against Freiburg and propelling his team back to the German Cup final.
Stuttgart is set to challenge Bayern Munich on May 23 in Berlin, aiming to thwart their domestic double dreams, which could escalate to a treble if Bayern also triumphs in the Champions League.
The contrast between the back-to-back cup finals for Stuttgart is stark, having faced the record-setting Bayern last year after defeating third-tier underdogs Arminia Bielefeld.
When asked how Stuttgart plans to upset the odds, striker Deniz Undav shared with Sky Sport, “It’s a tough question. We need to stay focused and avoid mistakes. We believe in our chances. In Berlin, anything can happen; it’s just one game.”
Freiburg’s pursuit of an unexpected double ended, though they still remain contenders for the Europa League title after reaching the semifinals.
The match seemed destined for penalties until Tomás showcased his individual brilliance, maneuvering between two defenders to flick the ball past Freiburg’s excellent goalkeeper Florian Müller with a deft backheel, thanks to a pass from Badredine Bouanani.
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Tomás celebrated exuberantly, waving his shirt and holding a corner flag high, even as he accepted the inevitable yellow card. Freiburg pressed forward in hopes of another goal, even sending Müller up for a corner, but their efforts fell short.
“Words can’t fully express what happened tonight,” Tomás remarked. “It’s one of those unforgettable nights that will stay with me forever.”
Earlier in the match, Freiburg struck first in the 28th minute when Maximilian Eggestein converted a corner with a clever flick off Matthias Ginter’s header. After having a goal disallowed for offside, Stuttgart leveled the score in the 70th minute when Deniz Undav finished a swift counterattack, marking his 24th goal of the season.
Undav turned into a playmaker, facilitating multiple scoring opportunities as Stuttgart began to take control, but Müller’s quick reactions kept Freiburg in the game. Chris Führich had a shot saved just before the match went to extra time and hit the post soon after. Freiburg was left feeling aggrieved after a goal from Lucas Höler was disallowed due to a body check on a defender.
Bayern secured their place in the final for the first time since 2020 with a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Beyond the glory of the cup, the winner will also earn a spot in the Europa League, although this is likely to revert to an additional league place given Stuttgart’s trajectory toward next season’s Champions League qualification through the Bundesliga.