VfB Stuttgart battled past RB Leipzig 3-1 on Wednesday to reach the German Cup final for the first time in 12 years and pile more misery on its crisis-hit opponent.
Stuttgart, which last won the title in 1997 and will play the final against third-tier club Arminia Bielefeld, which shocked holder Bayer Leverkusen with a 2-1 comeback win on Tuesday, pressed high and was more efficient with its chances throughout.
Leipzig, with the Red Bull soccer leadership, including global head of soccer Jurgen Klopp, watching from the stands, tried to come back, with new coach Zsolt Low making his debut after the sacking of Marco Rose on Sunday.
But he could not avoid a second straight loss after Saturday’s league defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
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Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller fired the hosts into a fifth-minute lead when he scored from 20 metres out with an unstoppable volley.
But Stuttgart keeper Alexander Nuebel was then kept busy and stopped Lois Openda three times as Leipzig, Cup winner in 2022 and 2023, went in search of an equaliser.
Instead, it was the host which scored again in the 56th after it won possession and Nick Woltemade finished off a superb passing move.
Leipzig hit back in the 62nd with Benjamin Sesko and also hit the woodwork late in the game, but Stuttgart restored its two-goal cushion in the 73rd when Jamie Leweling stabbed the ball over the line after a goal-mouth scramble.
