BO4 (2 - 1) VFB 67th minute
Off: #8 Enis Redzepi (Central Midfielder) On: #15 Mykola Petrovskyi (Attacking Midfielder)
Off: #7 Leon Sonnenblick (Right Wing) On: #18 Mohamed Drammeh (Striker/Attacker)
Off: #2 Nikolas Matic (Right Back) On: #14 Neo Jeggle (Right Back)
''Why are they subbing off number 7? Isn't he their most threatening attacker?''
Stuttgart supporters start asking questions amongst themselves and it's not only them, but the players are also questioning the change.
Leon jogs off along with the other two players. Everyone goes back to their positions, the coach sends a message for both Che and Speidel.
They should switch wings, Che on the left and Speidel on the right. Halil follows him towards the right back position. And the original right back goes to left back.
Leon walks towards the bench but he doesn't feel unhappy for being subbed off. He does want to play more, but he was satisfied with the fact that he had done everything he could to help the team get to this point. He now left everything to the players on the pitch.
Bayer restart the game, and their keeper kicks the ball towards Stuttgart's half. They retain the ball and start passing the ball through the team.
They push forward, now closer towards Stuttgart's penalty box with the striker waiting for a cross towards the box.
They patiently pass the ball until the ball reaches Halil who's deep in the right back position. He looks towards the box and whips a fast cross in.
The striker fights through both defenders as they close him down, he pushes one of him before jumping for the ball and he connects with it peferctly.
The header is clean and goes in for goal, just as the striker is about to go celebrate the referee blows the whistle.
He points to a foul from the striker for pushing the defender. The defeder is still on the groung from the push.
The Bayer players complain towards the ref where most of them surround the coach. Some Stuttgart players sigh of relief for the goal not being scored.
The game restarts and the keeper passes it towards the left back, and he passes it to Che. After taking a touch Halil gets physical with him, and he is forced to pass the ball where he barely gets it towards the central midfielder.
As Stuttgart progress forward they pass the ball around, until they are close to their penalty box, and Speidel has it.
Speidel takes one look in the box and the striker is waiting for a cross, he doesn't cross and passes it towards the middle.
And he is the one who crosses the ball to the striker, the striker fights in the box with the defender before jumping for the ball.
They both jump at the same time, but the defender wins the ball and gets it out of the box. Stuttgart pass the ball again.
This time they get it to Che, and he passes it back, but the midfielder gives it to him again. He decides to face Halil.
Halil positions his body to where Che should run towards the center, knowing that he can't use his right foot when dribbling.
Che tries to force a run down the wing, but he steals the ball. And carries it fowards looking for who to pass to.
Che comes from behind him and steals the ball back before Halil could realize. And runs with the ball down the wing again.
Halil is after him and Che suddenly stops and faces towards the penalty box, Halil slide tackles past him and he runs towards the box.
And finally passes the ball towards the attacking midfielder on the edge of the box, and he shoots the ball first time.
But the shot is block and goes back towards the midfielders and they play the ball again. Che slowly drifts towards the middle.
Halil follows him, and a midfielder makes a lofted pass towards the left back in the wing where there's not defenders.
The left back whips a cross in immediately, the cross looks promising as it curls towards the box. Players in the box fight to get towards it.
But no one ends up touching it as it goes across the goal keeper. The ball bounces towards the other wing and Speidel ends up getting it.
Che approaches him asking for the ball, Speidel passes it to him and he turns facing the box. And sends a cross immediately towards the back post.
The left back stood there behind a center back; he jumps for the ball but doesn't connect with the ball properly.
He is still able to head it towards the goal and the ball hits the net, and it wasn't the goal net but the side netting.
The player covers his face while some of the Stuttgart start dropping their heads, thinking that the game is over for them.
Che looks around his teammates and he can see their faces now starting to drop again. He's seen this before. During the last round against Dortmund.
He starts asking himself why? Why do they give up so easily when they are behind? Why do they refuse to fight until the end?
Stuttgart's passing starts being sloppy, and players are reacting slower to plays and passes. Bayer intercept the ball in the midfield and start a counterattack.
Their attacking midfield grabs the ball from the center circle and runs through Stuttgart's midfield while they can't bring themselves to tackle him.
He dribbles through two of their players and when close to the penalty box he slows down and decides to shoot the ball straight towards the middle.
The keeper knocks the ball over the post and the ball goes out for a corner. The players go into the box preparing for the corner.
Che notices how his teammates aren't enthusiastic anymore, as they're in the box pushing around they aren't trying hard enough.
He takes a look towards the bench and the coach is standing there watching them. He looks at the box and sees the players' faces looking disinterested and losing hope in a win.
''Why do you guys always look like that? I don't like those faces.'' He utters.