Bayer Leverkusen is continuing its trend of scoring late goals into the new season.
Patrik Schick scored an equalizer in the 88th minute to make it 2-2, and Leverkusen then won 4-3 on penalties against Stuttgart in the German Supercup on Saturday.
Even though the German Supercup is seen as the least important trophy of the season, both teams played with great intensity.
Referee Tobias Stieler handed out many yellow cards and sent off Leverkusen’s debutant Martin Terrier in the first half for a dangerous tackle on Stuttgart’s Ermedin Demirović.
Victor Boniface gave Leverkusen an early lead, but Enzo Millot quickly equalized, and Stuttgart then hit both the crossbar and the post.
Germany forward Deniz Undav put Stuttgart ahead 2-1 in the 63rd minute, just a minute after coming on.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso brought on Schick, Florian Wirtz, and Jeremie Frimpong to strengthen his team’s attack in the last 15 minutes. As he did often last season, Alonso’s move worked when Schick scored to tie the game in the 88th minute.
In the penalty shootout, Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký saved Frans Krätzig’s shot, and Silas missed the crucial penalty for Stuttgart.
This was the first German Supercup game without Bayern Munich since 2011. Leverkusen went undefeated last season as they won the Bundesliga and the German Cup, while Stuttgart qualified by finishing second in the league.
Supporters from both Leverkusen and Stuttgart boycotted the game because it meant their teams couldn’t play their German Cup matches this weekend.
