Leverkusen's unbeaten run hits 30 games in thrilling German Cup win over Stuttgart. Bayern is next
Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the German soccer cup quarterfinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. Credit: AP/Martin Meissner
LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Bayer Leverkusen reached 30 games unbeaten in all competitions this season with a 3-2 comeback win over Stuttgart to reach the German Cup semifinals Tuesday.
Jonathan Tah's 90th-minute header won the game and spared Xabi Alonso's team extra time ahead of a league game Saturday against title rival Bayern Munich. On the sideline, Alonso jumped and punched the air in celebration.
Leverkusen had twice recovered from a goal down. Stuttgart took the lead at a corner when Waldemar Anton got away from his marker Edmond Tapsoba and headed in at the far post. Midfielder Robert Andrich leveled the score early in the second half with a curling shot from around 20 meters (yards) into the top-right corner.
Chris Führich restored Stuttgart's lead in a move that began when Andrich gave away the ball, but Amine Adli leveled again for Leverkusen on the break from a through ball from Florian Wirtz, who also assisted Tah's winner. It was the third time in Leverkusen's last five games that it won a on a goal scored in the 90th minute or stoppage time.
Both teams were left with questions over the refereeing, as Andrich was lucky to escape a second yellow card for a heavy tackle in which he stepped on Enzo Millot’s foot.
Leverkusen was aggrieved when Stuttgart’s Hiroki Ito brought down Jeremie Frimpong with a slide tackle in the box. The referee and video review opted not to give a penalty, even though Ito didn’t seem to make any contact with the ball.
The win keeps alive the chance at a league and cup double for Leverkusen, a team sometimes dubbed “Neverkusen” for its historic tendency to fall just short of winning trophies. Leverkusen's last trophy was the German Cup in 1993.
Leverkusen's Amine Adli, center, celebrates with team mates after scoring his side's second goal during the German soccer cup quarterfinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. Credit: AP/Martin Meissner
Leverkusen joins second-division teams Fortuna Duesseldorf and Kaiserslautern in the semifinals. Top-division Borussia Moenchengladbach plays third-tier Saarbruecken for the last spot on Wednesday.
The stadium briefly fell silent as a fan was treated after falling from a stand. The person was conscious, Leverkusen said.
