Bayer 04 secured progress to the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal with a winner on 90 minutes against VfB Stuttgart at BayArena on Tuesday night.

In front of a full house at the BayArena, the Werkself twice levelled against Stuttgart before Jonathan Tah headed home to make it 3-2 and ensure massive joy for the Black and Reds.

Bayer 04 coach Xabi Alonso made five changes for the quarter-final tie compared with the line-up in the 2-0 win at Darmstadt. As in previous DFB-Pokal ties, Matej Kovar was in goal again.Edmond Tapsoba made his first start of the year after his return from the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory.

With the backing of a vocal North Stand, the Werkself pressed high and were determined to control the ball and the game. But the first chance of the match fell to VfB – and it produced a goal: Waldemar Anton scored with a header from an Angelo Stiller corner to make it 1-0 in the 11th minute.

Goal celebrations for the Black and Reds finally came in the 40th minute: Patrik Schick put the ball in the net at the far post from a tight angle. However, the Czechia international was just offside from a deflected pass by Grimaldo.

The VfB keeper Alexander Nubel pulled off a good save to deny Grimaldo from a free kick in the 42nd minute and that was followed by a back-heel effort by Schick two minutes later. The Werkself were on the front foot but were unable to level before the break so they went into half-time a goal down.