Outstanding VfB Stuttgart leads "catastrophic" BVB
Borussia Dortmund is the next heavyweight in German soccer to fail in the DFB Cup. After a desolate performance, the team was knocked out in the round of 16 by the strong VfB Stuttgart. For coach Edin Terzić, things are becoming increasingly unpleasant.
VfB Stuttgart's sky-high strikers mercilessly punished Borussia Dortmund's fearless soccer. The storming Swabians deservedly defeated the despondent BVB 2:0 (0:0) in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup and advanced to the last eight, just like last year. While VfB can dream of a fourth cup win in this form, the first goal of the season is gone for the visitors - and the crisis talk is likely to start all over again. Goal-guarantor Serhou Guirassy (54') and substitute Silas (77') scored for Stuttgart in front of national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
"We were lacking at the front and at the back," said Dortmund captain Emre Can on ZDF, "we weren't strong enough in tackles, a disaster in terms of soccer, not good at all against the ball. We are Dortmund, we have to do better! We have to get together, it can't go on like this."
It was the first cup win over Dortmund in 25 years, also in the round of 16 (3:1). The Borussian Jamie Bynoe-Gittens was just offside when he supposedly scored to make it 1:1 (60'). BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke watched the defeat with his arms folded and a petrified look in the stands. In front of 54,200 spectators in the sold-out MHP-Arena, VfB tried to "actively defend forwards", as coach Sebastian Hoeneß put it, with the duo of Guirassy and Deniz Undav. That worked and BVB were pinned back in their half. Borussia entrenched themselves there in the style of an underdog in a 5-4-1 system.
Two BVB stars had to come off injured
Captain Emre Can, who coach Edin Terzic had withdrawn to the center of defence, blocked Guirassy's first shot (7'). "Stand compact, create transitional moments and be dangerous with a lot of speed," was how sporting director Sebastian Kehl described the idea. Terzic brought on the speedy Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko. The latter was forced off injured after Marcel Sabitzer hit the crossbar in the 20th minute. The permanent reserve had only had two touches of the ball up to that point. Sabitzer's aluminum test was an exception: Dortmund lacked any real ideas in possession. VfB were more dangerous, for example through Undav (24./43.) or Atakan Karazor (45.+2).
BVB were also forced off after the restart with the injured Marius Wolf and Marcel Sabitzer. This did not change the style of play. Can saved again from Guirassy after Mats Hummels lost the ball (48'), then goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was on hand to save from the Guinean (52'). VfB's lead was a matter of time: Can and Nico Schlotterbeck were too late after the strong Enzo Millot's pinpoint pass, and Kobel got the ball through his legs. The "huge opportunity" that Kehl had conjured up for Dortmund to play out the title with the remaining Bundesliga clubs Leverkusen and Gladbach was hanging by a thread.
Kobel prevented Millot from making it 2:0 (58'). It was only now that the visitors woke up and opened up the game a little more. Guirassy also missed the next possible VfB goal (69'), but Silas, who had come on as a substitute six minutes earlier, did better. There was another scare for BVB at the end: Julian Ryerson had to be substituted with a painful knee injury.
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Borussia Dortmund's defence struggled against the attacking prowess of VfB Stuttgart's Niclas Füllkrug and Serhou Guirassy, with Mats Hummels at times looking vulnerable. The BVB's search for goals continued, as even the introduction of Youssoufa Moukoko failed to spark a turnaround. Meanwhile, Edin Terzic and Borussia Dortmund's board member Hans-Joachim Watzke watched as Dortmund's disappointing form persisted, with captain Emre Can expressing concern over the team's performance. Despite facing injuries to Can and Marius Wolf, Dortmund's opponent in the next DFB Cup round will be VfB Stuttgart, who are currently enjoying their best form in years.
Source: www.ntv.de
