Both sides opted for an attacking approach, leading to a high tempo game right from the outset. From early on, VfB were particularly threatening down the left and in the 23rd minute, Molinaro broke on the wing again before swinging in a delivery which Cacau perfectly controlled in the middle and blasted past the HSV keeper to make it 1-0 for VfB. With the wind in their sales from the lead, the home side continued to press forward in search of a second, but despite efforts from Boka, Kvist and Molinaro, Bruno Labbadia’s men were unable to extend their lead further and took their 1-0 advantage into the break.

All out attack

The second period got off to a more subdued start than the first had but after ten minutes of play it was all action once again. In the 54th minute, Mladen Petric passed to Paolo Guerrero, whose attempted delivery saw William Kvist get a toe in ahead of Petric, but the midfielder turned the ball past his own keeper to make it 1-1 – and begin an entertaining and attacking half of football.

There were then openings at both ends before, in the 62nd minute, Molinaro put another ball across the box from the by-line and found Cacau powering through the centre to meet the delivery and fire the ball home to make it 2-1.

The home side were in front again, but from the 70th minute, the visitors forced their way forward and could only be prevented from equalizing by a heroic display by Sven Ulreich: Firstly the VfB keeper denied Robert Tesche, who had suddenly popped up alone in front of the Stuttgart goal. In the 75th minute the VfB keeper was alert and lightening quick again to deny Paolo Guerrero with an outstretched foot. Just four minutes later, the Peruvian striker found his strike partner Petric, but even from point-blank range, there was no way past an inspired Ulreich.