Badreddine Bouanani had played just eight minutes all month when his coach sent him onto the pitch in the 118th minute of the DFB-Pokal semifinal against SC Freiburg.
The Algerian winger, who had struggled for playing time this season, delivered a pinpoint cross from the right flank that Tiago Tomás converted with a first-time volley in the 119th minute to send VfB Stuttgart into the final.
Stuttgart, the defending champions, had trailed since the 28th minute when Maximilian Eggestein scored for Freiburg after a catastrophic back-pass from Angelo Stiller.
Deniz Undav equalized in the 70th minute with a perfectly struck cross-shot, but Freiburg goalkeeper Florian Müller made a series of heroic saves, including stopping a close-range effort from Undav in the 82nd minute and tipping a shot from Chris Führich onto the post in extra time.
The match remained locked at 1-1 until Bouanani’s introduction, after which Stuttgart created the chance that decided the tie.
VfB Stuttgart will now face Bayern Munich in the final, setting up a rematch of last year’s showdown.
Stuttgart’s coach had deployed an unusually aggressive lineup, fielding five attackers in an attempt to overturn their 2-4 deficit from the previous league encounter with Bayern.
The tactical shift paid off as the team’s expected goals metric jumped from 0.07 to 4.25 before halftime, though they lacked the precision to convert chances until the late surge.
In defense, Stuttgart used a back three of left-footed players — Maximilian Mittelstädt, Jeff Chabot, and Ramon Hendriks — a rare selection that left the right flank occasionally exposed.
Fribourg had controlled large stretches of the game after taking the lead, but failed to hold on as Stuttgart’s late pressure forced the contest into extra time.
How did Bouanani’s limited playing time affect expectations for his performance?
Having played only eight minutes in April prior to the semifinal, few anticipated Bouanani would be decisive, let alone provide the assist that sent Stuttgart to the final.
What tactical risk did Stuttgart’s coach take that ultimately contributed to the win?
He started five attackers despite recent defensive struggles, a gamble that created scoring opportunities but left the right flank vulnerable at times.