Eintracht Frankfurt
| 1-1 | Rosenthal | (80. Min) |
| 2-1 | Meier | (89. Min) |
VfB Stuttgart
| 0-1 | Harnik | (31. Min) |
Sebastian Jung
Stats 
Martin Harnik scored the opener.
VfB put on a defensively disciplined and determined battling performance in Frankfurt. Trainer Thomas Schneider’s side always looked threatening on the break and led 1-0 for a long period of the match. Late in the game though, the hosts hit twice and turned the tie to earn a 2-1 win for the home side.
For the game in Frankfurt, captain Christian Gentner returned to the starting eleven, alongside Moritz Leitner in defensive midfield. Up front, Cacau made his first start of the season, whilst Timo Werner, Rani Khedira and Mohammed Abdellaoue took places on the bench.
Following an evenly matched opening, the hosts had the first chance on goal. Tranquillo Barnetta headed on goal from close range, but Sven Ulreich displayed some lightening quick reflexes to get down and turn away the effort (6‘). Eintracht Frankfurt had the bulk of the possession, but a well-organised VfB defence prevented the home side from creating any further openings early in the tie. In the 18th minute, Alexandru Maxim tested Eintracht keeper Kevin Trapp, who turned away the wingers bouncing effort. VfB remained defensively extremely disciplined and began to win ever more of the ball and hit cleverly on the break. With just over a half-hour on the clock, Alexandru Maxim picked out Martin Harnik, and the Austrian slotted home from 16 meters out to make it 1-0 for VfB. Just minutes later, Cacau had a chance from 14 meters out, but this time Trapp got his arms up quickly to turn the shot away. The visitors had a further chance to improve their advantage, but in the 38th minute, Harnik’s effort failed to have the same effect as his first. With the VfB defence proving impenetrable, trainer Thomas Schneider’s men took their narrow lead in at the break.
Quote for the game
Bernd Wahler: "We are going to have to process the situation now following this bitterly disappointing experience. We wanted to build something here along with Thomas Schneider and we are not going to ditch that intention based on emotion. At the moment there has been no decision made against Thomas Schneider. We intend to calmly analyse the situation along with the trainer team."
Post match comments
Late goals prove costly
After the restart, VfB continued much as they had finished the first half. At the back, Schneider’s side never looked troubled, winning their challenges aggressively and providing a threat on the break. Martin Harnik failed to make use of a good through ball from Alexandru Maxim (47’) and Moritz Leitner could find no way past Kevin Trapp with his low drive. At the other end, Frankfurt had their first opening of the second period through Stefan Aigner, but as in the first half, Sven Ulreich was alert to turn away a strong header (61’). There was then a shock moment for VfB some ten minutes later, when referee Deniz Aytekin initially blew for a penalty following a clash between Tranquillo Barnetta and Cacau in the VfB penalty area. The referee then reversed his decision upon a brief discussion with linesman Benjamin Brand. Television pictures proved the decision not to award a penalty as being absolutely correct.
In the 77th minute, Alexandru Maxim had a perfect chance to make it 2-0, but sliced his chance wide of the empty goal. Instead of VfB improving their advantage, VfB suddenly found themselves trailing. Initially Jan Rosenthal levelled the scores, before Alexander Meier made it 2-1 for the hosts in the 89th minute to secure heartache for VfB.
