El Bilal Toure makes history with last-minute goal for VfB Stuttgart

by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- While heading home, 23-year-old El Bilal Toure from Mali received an impromptu lesson on the history of his current club, VfB Stuttgart.

With that strike, the 21-time-capped Malian etched his name into the club's history books. Though Stuttgart's traveling squad only briefly discussed his unfamiliarity with the club's past achievements, his heroic run into Juve's penalty box is sure to be remembered for years.

The Malian international joined Stuttgart on loan from Atalanta a few months ago, and unsurprisingly, he wasn't familiar with the Swabians' last UEFA Champions League victory in December 2009.

Back then, Toure was just eight years old, likely dreaming of a professional football career like many youngsters in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital where he was born. He moved back to his parents' home country of Mali at 14, and at that time, he may not have even heard of VfB Stuttgart. Fast forward nearly 15 years, and Toure is now part of their history after scoring a stunning last-minute goal to defeat Juventus this past Tuesday.

"World-class, just world-class," said German international Deniz Undav, praising Toure's composure as he chipped the ball past Italian defenders before hammering it into the net, igniting waves of euphoria.

Despite a disallowed goal by Undav and a missed penalty from Enzo Millot, Stuttgart's victory was well-deserved. Toure, who was substituted in the 62nd minute, seized his moment during extra time to deliver the winning goal. Having worked his way up behind regular forwards like Undav and Bosnian international Ermedin Demirovic, the former Reims, Almeria, and Atalanta striker is now gaining ground, following up on his first league goal against Dortmund.

For Toure, Stuttgart represents a new chance to establish consistency after struggling to make a breakthrough at his previous clubs. The 2007 German champions paid a reported 3 million euros for his loan and secured an 18-million-euro purchase option. Scoring in Turin and making history might just be the start of Toure reaching his potential at Stuttgart.

"I'm sure everyone in Stuttgart will be talking about this victory and El Bilal's goal for years to come," said Stuttgart's managing director, Fabian Wohlgemuth, with a smile.

For the Cote d'Ivoire-born Malian, one thing is clear-he won't want to wait another 15 years to make his mark in the VfB shirt again. Enditem.