Views: 6
Bayer Leverkusen came from a goal down to beat Stuttgart in a penalty shoot-out and win the DFL-Supercup despite being reduced to 10 players inside the first half.
Xabi Alonso’s side had looked set to be beaten by German opposition – something that did not happen once in their double-winning campaign last time out – but produced another extraordinary act of escapology to win this trophy for the first time.
Cheered on by the home support in the BayArena, Leverkusen scored the opening goal when Victor Boniface tapped in Edmond Tapsoba’s goal-bound header from close range. But their evening become more difficult thereafter with Stuttgart impressing.
The surprise runners-up in last season’s Bundesliga levelled when young French midfielder Enzo Millot swept the ball past Lukas Hradecky to equalise. Leverkusen could hardly complain as Stuttgart hit the frame of the goal on three further occasions.
Alonso’s night was not helped when Martin Terrier, on his debut, lunged in on Ermedin Demirovic and connected high on the ankle with his studs. That led to Boniface being substituted and Leverkusen playing the entire second half reduced to 10 players.
It was the changes made by Sebastian Hoeness that appeared set to be decisive. The Stuttgart head coach introduced Franz Kratzig and Deniz Undav just after the hour and the former crossed for the latter to score almost immediately to stun the crowd
But with time running out, Leverkusen summoned another of their trademark late goals, substitute Patrik Schick finishing a fine move to take the game to penalties. Kratzig and Silas missed. Leverkusen had done it again. The team that never knows it is beaten.
Stuttgart miss trophy chance
For Stuttgart, this was a huge blow because the game seemed there for them, the hard work done. This was a team shorn of star striker Serhou Guirassy this summer, sold to Borussia Dortmund, but their performance suggested they can still be a threat.
“For everyone in the stadium, for everyone who watches the Bundesliga, I think this was a good commercial,” said Christian Gentner, the ex-Stuttgart player now on the staff. “You can see that our level is quite high again. We hope we can continue this season.”
Still, it was a missed opportunity to win this competition for the first time in 32 years, to win any top-level prize for the first time in 17. “It is still a quality of Leverkusen to come back into these games in the last minutes, the last seconds,” added Gentner.
Leverkusen’s powers of recovery
How do Leverkusen keep doing it? If this were Real Madrid, it would be explained away as the heritage of the club, the belief instilled over generations. Leverkusen have found it in no time at all under Alonso, salvaging seemingly lost situations again and again.
Nathan Tella, the former Southampton winger, said afterwards: “We showed great character. It was a very mature performance. It is always difficult going down to 10 men but have the character to get back into it. We managed to play our normal game.”
After a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in pre-season and some awkward moments in this one, Leverkusen do not appear to be at their very best right now. But they find a way. The celebrations will be short. Alonso’s players have more work to do, according to Tella.
“We will celebrate but we will do it in the right way. It is not like the Pokal final where we had the summer ahead of us. We have the start of the league next week. It is nice to have a little celebration, the dressing room is good, but it is back to training on Monday.” (SKY SPORTS)