Vedad Ibisevic (front) and Martin Harnik were decisive in Stuttgart's visit to Nuremberg
Vedad Ibisevic (front) and Martin Harnik were decisive in Stuttgart's visit to Nuremberg

Ibisevic and Harnik seal Stuttgart's first win

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Nuremberg - VfB Stuttgart were lucky to snatch their first win of the season in a 2-0 against a largely dominant Nuremberg side.

Harnik to the rescue

Marcos Antonio was one of four new players in Nuremberg's starting eleven after Wednesday's 4-1 defeat to Hannover 96, but was substituted in the 16th minute after sloppily assisting Vedad Ibisevic to score after only 28 seconds and gifting Raphael Holzhauser a chance just ten minutes later.

With the guests in front, Nuremberg tried to up the pressure as the first half progressed, but a lack of cutting-edge in the final third of the pitch was their downfall, with Almog Cohen missing the home side's best opportunity when his shot from 20 yards forced a brilliant reaction from Sven Ulreich.

For all their possession, Nuremberg struggled to make much headway. Raphael Schäfer was called into action to save Holzhauser's rocket, while Ulreich cleared Hiroshi Kiyotake's free-kick at the hour mark. However, the home side were caught cold 15 minutes from the end when Martin Harnik slotted in Ibisevic's pass to seal Stuttgart's first win of the season.

The home side failed to seriously threaten Stuttgart's stiff defence in the final stages and were lucky not to concede another when Arthur Boka missed from close range just before the final whistle.

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