VfL Wolfsburg has ended its negative series and scored three important points in the fight for a place in international business with a 2-0 (1-0) win at 1. FC Köln.
Coach Steffen Baumgart scratched his chin after the final whistle, he seemed disappointed and strolled across the pitch uncharacteristically emotionless: 0:2 (0:1) his 1. FC Köln lost to VfL Wolfsburg and thus a week after the 0: 3 again failed to score points in Stuttgart.
Goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe of all people had started the home bankruptcy with a blunder to 0:1, which also left the fans quite perplexed and frustrated. “I saw the ball very, very late. That was very annoying,” said the FC keeper on Sky: “We have to keep working hard and get the necessary points.”
Although FC’s 75th birthday was almost two weeks ago (February 13), the fans insisted on bathing the stadium in red and white with a huge choreography.
The spectators had just sung themselves frenetically when it was already 0:1. Former Cologne player Yannick Gerhardt (4th) overcame Schwäbe with a shot that was not particularly well placed – and because of old solidarity, he did not celebrate. Maximilian Arnold (68th) increased the converted penalty kick.
“I didn’t hit the ball well,” reported Gerhardt, for whom the tactical discipline of his team was crucial: “We addressed that during the week. The approach was that we were compact.”
Arnold even had positive news to report off the pitch. “We’ll have another girl, then we’ll have three children. Two boys and now a girl,” said the captain on the Sky microphone and quickly declared family planning over. Wolfsburg had only got one point from the last four games, and now they have been liberated, which is valuable in the race for international places.
At Cologne, the absence of the best scorer, Florian Kainz, had a negative impact, Baumgart shouted instructions, whistled and tried to tear his players out of their lethargy. Without success.
Dejan Ljubicic only tested Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels in the 37th minute, but he confidently parried the long-range shot. Cologne came out of the dressing room with more vigor and vehemence and also carried away the fans, who had become increasingly calm in the dull first half. Timo Hübers (58th) failed with another long-range shot at Casteels. Steffen Tigges (63rd) hesitated too long in the best position and missed.
That took revenge: In the middle of this first phase of pressure from Cologne, Jonas Hector brought down Kilian Fischer. Wolfsburg’s captain Arnold confidently converted the penalty due under the whistles of the spectators.
The goal had an effect on Cologne – the momentum of the minutes before the 0:2 was gone. Wolfsburg now defended deep in their own half and watched for counterattacks. Davie Selke (89th) missed the great opportunity to score.
1. FC Cologne – VfL Wolfsburg: The data for the game
1. FC Cologne – VfL Wolfsburg: The voices of the game
Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “My team did a lot for the game and didn’t hide. The first two shots were in. We didn’t manage to create chances to score. We stuck with it until the end, the lads gave everything against a very good Wolfsburg team . In my opinion, a point would not have been undeserved.”
Niko Kovac (VfL Wolfsburg coach): “My team played a really good game against very, very good opponents. We defended well and didn’t allow much. Cologne then had to play with long balls. We could have finished a few things offensively better. But I’m very satisfied.”
