Match summary:
VfB emerged from the dressing room like a team possessed, dominating the game and delivering a sensational performance in front of a capacity crowd at the MHP Arena. Dortmund were no match for the home side’s pressure, pace and power in the first half as Sebastian Hoeneß’s side took a 2-0 lead into the break.
There was little change in the second half as Stuttgart continued to apply heavy pressure and play some magnificent football. The visitors were unable to come up with any answers as VfB struck three more times, earning a thoroughly deserved 5-1 victory.
Goals:
4th minute: Deniz Undav is first to anticipate a Maximilian Mittelstädt pass in behind the Dortmund defence. The striker sets off on a run and guides a left-footed shot into the far corner to put the home side 1-0 ahead.
21st minute: A lovely team goal! Jamie Leweling feeds Mittelstädt, whose cross is headed home by Ermedin Demirovic. 2-0 VfB!
62nd minute: Mittelstädt sends another cross into the box. VfB skipper Atakan Karazor wins an aerial duel and tees up Enzo Millot, who fires home VfB’s third of the evening.
75th minute: Serhou Guirassy, who left VfB in the summer, beats Dan-Axel Zagadou for pace and steers a cool finish past Alexander Nübel. 3-1.
80th minute: Millot skips along the byline and cuts the ball back for El Bilal Touré to restore VfB’s three-goal advantage.
90th minute: A fine long ball from Millot finds Undav, who sends another calm finish into the far corner to complete a 5-1 win for VfB – what a result!
Special mentions:
VfB are now unbeaten in 14 home matches (W10 D4) – the Cannstatt side’s best run in front of their own fans in 15 years (November 2008 – August 2009) and their longest since a 19-game unbeaten streak between September 2006 and September 2007.
Touré, who joined VfB at the end of August, scored his first goal for the club.
An eye for a pass: Mittelstädt and Millot both registered two assists.