S04 (1 - 3) VfB – 60th Minute
Schalke tried pushing through midfield again, but Stuttgart disrupted them high up and pounced. One quick turnover, and the ball zipped between three passes—right through Schalke's exposed midfield—and landed at Che's feet.
He had space. Not much, but enough.
Two defenders ahead, one midfielder pressing from behind. Most players would've laid it off. But Che? He was tired of just being "promising." He hadn't shown what he could really do since drawing that red card in the first half. Everyone else had their big moment. He wanted his.
He took the opening and accelerated between the gaps, ignoring Speidel, who had peeled into space off to the side. The center-back ahead tracked him calmly, shaping to guide him out wide. But Che had other ideas. One sudden shift—just a sharp body feint—and he darted between both center-backs like he'd walked through a door only he could see.
He was in.
But the defender he passed wasn't out of it. He caught up fast, forcing Che to check his run just inside the box. A little jersey tug. Nothing crazy, just enough to unsettle him.
Che paused, braced for pressure, and then cut inside again, this time toward the keeper's far post. No angle left, and time slipping. He struck it anyway—left foot, low and to the corner.
Wide.
Didn't hit it right. Missed his moment.
A few minutes later, another chance dropped. Ball came in high from midfield, and Che was pressed the moment it dropped. He brought it down on his chest, back to goal, with one midfielder already climbing onto him and a defender stepping out too soon.
Quick bounce off the turf, and Che lifted it gently over the defender's head. Classic street move. Defender overcommitted and was left looking.
With the midfielder still clinging on, Che powered into the gap ahead. He held him off, spun with his back still to goal, and with hardly any space, bent a shot toward the far corner from outside the box.
It clipped the crossbar. A fraction lower and it was in.
He stood still for a second, shoulders tense, staring at the post like it owed him something.
Then it was Djaby's turn.
He drifted out to the left wing to find more space, and sure enough, it worked. Schalke got him the ball out wide, and he immediately faced up Stuttgart's left-back.
First step? Scoop flick over the sliding challenge. Second step? Nutmeg the next press.
Now he had freedom to cut inside. Played a quick one-two with his striker, who fed it right back into his path. Djaby hit it first time, low and curling toward the far post.
It skimmed just above the grass, tight spin curling it inside. Keeper didn't even flinch. Ball kissed the post and came flying back into play.
Stuttgart cleared—barely—but Schalke had their tail up now. One attack turned into another.
Djaby, sneaking back toward the middle, found a pocket between the lines. The ball was fired at him, heavy pace—and he used it.
Without even turning fully, he flicked a backheel pass into space. Perfect weight. His striker, Dieckmann, took off.
One touch to set himself, second touch to bury it. Low into the far bottom corner, clean as you like.
S04 (2 - 3) VfB – 72nd Minute
Goal: Jonas Dieckmann | Assist: Bissara Djaby
Che dropped to his knees as soon as he saw it hit the net.
He didn't even look up. Just sat there, replaying his own miss from earlier in his head.
Stuttgart finally made the call. Sub coming on.
Substitution: In: Felix Bauer (ST) ⬅ Out: Kian Speidel (LW)
Che shifted over to the right wing. Leon moved left.