Stuttgart sneak past Augsburg into German Cup semis

VfB Stuttgart are the first team to reach the German Cup semi-finals after they defeated Augsburg 1-0.

Germany international Deniz Undav scored the hosts’ winner on Tuesday night in the 30th minute to end a three-game losing streak.

Augsburg midfielder Frank Onyenka failed to clear a deep ball, which found Ermedin Demirovic. He served Undav, who smashed it into the net.

The visitors had made the better start and the visitors also missed good chances to level in the second half, with substitute Mert Koemuer drawing a good save from Alexander Nuebel and failing to make the most of another chance.

“It wasn’t a strong game, but in the end what matters is the qualification (to the semi-finals) and we achieved that,” Undav told broadcasters ARD.

“I’m happy that I scored a goal.”

Coach Sebastian Hoeness, however, will have concerns over midfielder Enzo Millot, who suffered an ankle injury at the end of the match. While Hoeness and the players celebrated the win, Millot remained on the ground receiving treatment after a foul from Dimitrios Giannoulis, who was booked.

Augsburg, meanwhile, failed to equal their best Cup campaign in their history – a semi-final run in 2009-2010.

“It was a very open game. The opportunities to defeat Stuttgart were there, but we didn’t play consistently enough,” midfielder Marius Wolf said.

“It’s always bitter to be eliminated from the Cup.”

Stuttgart have won the German Cup three times and are seeking a first title in the competition since the 1996-97 season. Last term, they were eliminated by eventual champions Bayer Leverkusen in the quarters.

The title holders host their last-eight clash against Cologne on Wednesday. The other two matches – Arminia Bielefeld-Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig-Wolfsburg are on February 25-26.