VfB Stuttgart
| 1-0 | Gentner | (31. Min) |
| 2-0 | Ibisevic | (36. Min) |
1. FC Köln
| 2-1 | Clemens | (80. Min) |
Stats 
Vedad Ibisevic celebrate his goal.
VfB progress in the DFB-Cup
A chorus of “Berlin, Berlin – wir fahren nach (we’re going to) Berlin“ rang around the Mercedes-Benz Arena in light of VfB’s progression to the quarter final stage of the DFB-Cup. Christian Gentner and Vedad Ibisevic were on target for VfB as they beat 1. FC Köln 2-1 (2-0).
Gentner and Ibisevic put VfB in the driving seat
After 22 minutes, the first sounds of disbelief echoed around the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Shinji Okazaki had put in a cross from the right flank, which a Köln player nodded back into the path of Vedad Ibisevic, but FC keeper Thomas Kessler defused the situation with a good stop from the striker’s header.
VfB upped the pressure and the bulk of the game was therefore confined to the visitor’s half but until the 31st minute, Bruno Labbadia’s men were unable to create any significant openings. Ibrahima Traoré swung a corner from the left into the penalty area, where Christian Gentner had pulled away from his marker and side-footed home to make it 1-0 for VfB.
Just three minutes later, Shinjo Okazaki went close as he flung himself at the ball but was unable to make a clear connection (34’). Just two minutes further on though, the VfB fateful amongst the 27,500 in the Mercedes-Benz Arena were off their seats and cheering again. The hosts were awarded a penalty for a hand-ball in the area and Vedad Ibisevic stepped up to hammer the ball home and give VfB a 2-0 advantage to take into the break.
Shortly after the re-start, Anthony Ujah broke away with only the keeper to beat, but Sven Ulreich was alert to the danger and flung himself at the feet of the FC man to smother the ball. A minute later at the other end, Shinji Okazaki cut inside and got a shot away but was unable to find the target.
VfB head-coach Bruno Labbadia: "Compliments to the lads – we are one of only three teams that will still be represented in three club competitions after the winter break."
The early phases of the second period were far more eventful than they had been in the first half, with both goalkeepers playing much more significant roles. Köln’s Kessler finger-tipped an Okazaki header around the post (51’), whilst at the other end, Sven Ulreich made a stop from Mato Jajalo, with Georg Niedermeier eventually clearing for a corner (53’). The VfB keeper was in action again a minute later, once again denying Jajalo, who had driven in a low effort from 20 meters out.
Clemens throws FC a lifeline
With ten minutes left to play, Christian Clemens was played through and the FC attacker kept his cool well to slot past the on-rushing Ulreich and reduce the VfB advantage to 2-1. Bruno Labbadia introduced Arthur Boka in place of Traoré to help shore things up (83’) and second later Christian Gentner won the ball and passed to Martin Harnik, but the Austrian’s directly taken effort fizzed wide of the upright.
In a direct counter attack, Sven Ulreich was called into action again when Daniel Royer let fly from outside the box and forced the keeper to go full stretch to turn the effort away (87’). In the end, VfB maintained their advantage and saw their way through to the quarter finals of the DFB-Cup with a 2-1 win over Köln.
