VfB Stuttgart eased into the second round of the DFB Pokal with a 4-0 victory at F.C. Hansa Rostock. Dženan Pejčinović scored a hat-trick as the away side controlled the tie from the first half onward.
Pejčinović opened the scoring in the 18th minute from Tiago Tomás's assist, then doubled the lead in the 37th minute after Deniz Undav turned provider. Tomás made it 3-0 in the 74th minute, again set up by Undav, before Pejčinović completed his treble in the 82nd minute from Josha Vagnoman's pass. Angelo Stiller and Florian Bohnert were both booked within a minute of each other in the first half.
Stuttgart's dominance was clear in the stats: 75% possession, 21 shots to nine, and 678 accurate passes to 175. Pejčinović was the standout performer with three of the four goals, while Tomás scored the other and set up the opener; Undav finished with two assists.
