Stuttgart into Pokal final as Leipzig falls apart
Stuttgart will face Arminia Bielefeld in the final of the DFB-Pokal after beating RB Leipzig 3-1 at MHPArena.
The result saw the host reach its first final in the competition in 12 years, as it aims to win the tournament for the first time since 1997.
In what was Zsolt Low's first game in charge of Leipzig since taking over from Marco Rose until the end of the season, his team was behind after five minutes.
Maximilian Mittelstadt's inswinging corner was cleared only as far as Angelo Stiller, who picked out the top-right corner with a stunning first-time volley on the edge of the box.
But Leipzig improved after going a goal behind, with Lois Openda seeing two strikes in quick succession repelled by Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nubel.
Neither side was able to find the back of the net at the end of a pulsating opening period, but Stuttgart doubled its advantage in the 57th minute.
After neat work on the edge of the penalty area, Ermedin Demirovic combined with Nick Woltemade, with the latter collecting the ball and placing it past Maarten Vandevoordt.
But Benjamin Sesko halved the deficit just five minutes later, capitalising on some poor defending by Stuttgart to tuck home from Willi Orban's hopeful ball into the box.
Stuttgart, however, restored its two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute when Jamie Leweling stabbed the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble.
Sesko threatened a nervy ending for the hosts when he rattled the crossbar late on, but Stuttgart was able to hold to seal its place in the final on 25 May (AEDT).
