Borussia Dortmund stun VfB Stuttgart with late double
Borussia Dortmund scored twice in stoppage time to tighten their grip on second place with victory over top-four hopefuls VfB Stuttgart.
VfB Stuttgart 0–2 Borussia Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Adeyemi 90'+4, 0-2 Brandt 90'+6 (assist: Silva)
Dortmund arrived at the MHP Arena looking to maintain their strong position in second place, having turned around a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 against Hamburg in their previous match. Stuttgart, meanwhile, had climbed to third after an impressive 5-2 victory at Augsburg.
History favoured the home side, with Stuttgart unbeaten in their previous seven meetings with Dortmund. The hosts' striker Deniz Undav entered the match on a remarkable scoring streak, having found the net in six consecutive Bundesliga matches - a feat unmatched by any other player this season.
Stuttgart dominance unrewarded
From the opening whistle, Stuttgart seized control of proceedings, dominating possession and pinning Dortmund back in their own half. The hosts' attacks frequently came down the left flank, with Chris Führich proving particularly lively. The winger tested Gregor Kobel from distance in the 13th minute before Stiller forced another save from the Dortmund goalkeeper six minutes later.
Undav also came close, firing just wide from inside the box in the 26th minute. Dortmund offered minimal attacking threat, with Waldemar Anton's headed effort their only meaningful attempt of a first half dominated by the Swabians, who enjoyed nearly 70 percent possession but couldn't find a breakthrough.
Dramatic late Dortmund double
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Stuttgart pushing forward but struggling to create clear-cut chances. Both coaches turned to their benches, with Niko Kovač bringing on Karim Adeyemi and Fabio Silva in the 64th minute, while Stuttgart introduced Jamie Leweling for Führich.
As the match approached full time, a goalless draw seemed increasingly likely. However, deep into stoppage time, Adeyemi broke Stuttgart hearts. In the 94th minute, the substitute collected a deflected clearance and fired home past Alexander Nübel.
With Stuttgart pushing forward desperately, Dortmund struck again just two minutes later when Silva crossed for Julian Brandt, who controlled and volleyed brilliantly into the top corner to seal a remarkable 2-0 victory.
Man of the Match: Gregor Kobel
Kobel produced a masterclass in goalkeeping to keep Stuttgart at bay and provide the foundation for Dortmund's late smash-and-grab victory. The Switzerland international made several crucial saves, particularly in the first half when he denied both Stiller and Führich to keep the scores level.
While Stuttgart created the better chances throughout the match, as reflected by their higher xG value (0.67 vs Dortmund's 0.37), Kobel's commanding presence and sharp reflexes ensured his side remained in contention.
The former Stuttgart goalkeeper's performance earned him 31 percent of the votes for Man of the Match, recognition of his vital contribution to Dortmund's unlikely triumph.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Stuttgart 0.67 - Dortmund 0.37
Fastest player: Tiago Tomás (Stuttgart), 35.14 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-2 by Julian Brandt (Dortmund), 7 percent
Most pressed player: Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), 20 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart), +3.52
Fantasy Heroes: Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart, 268 Points), Lorenz Assignon (Stuttgart, 222 Points), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart, 221 Points)
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