The famous double packer Anthony Modeste has plunged VfL Wolfsburg even deeper into the crisis. After the sixth defeat in a row, the wolves face a gloomy Christmas.
Florian Kohfeldt talked desperately to the fourth official, then the VfL Wolfsburg coach went into the dressing room, shaking his head. The famous double packer Anthony Modeste had plunged VfL even deeper into the crisis: In the 89th minute, the 1. FC Köln striker Kohfeldt hit the heart and scored the winning goal to make it 3: 2 (1: 1). VfL, who led twice at home, also lost their sixth competitive game in a row – and on Friday the duel with autumn champions FC Bayern awaits.
A gloomy Wolfsburg Christmas is looming. “It’s obvious: we’re not defending well enough,” said sports director Marcel Schäfer Sky confused. “And when we have to cope with setbacks, we sometimes never come back. That is a very, very big disappointment.”
Even the early lead by Lukas Nmecha (8th) didn’t give VfL the calm they needed to win at home. With his ninth goal of the season, FC striker Modeste equalized in the 34th minute. The renewed VfL lead by Wout Weghorst (51st) was like Mark Uth (73rd), who had been substituted 74 seconds earlier, before Modeste struck decisively.
Modeste didn’t mince his words at the sports show – and was particularly pleased to have won against Jörg Schmadtke’s team. The two had clashed during Schmadtke’s time in Cologne. “You always meet twice in life,” said Modeste. “It’s nice to win here and send Wolfsburg into crisis.”
Wolfsburg – Cologne: Effzeh got off to a worse start
The hosts got off to a better start, after just two minutes Felix Nmecha, for the first time at the side of his brother Lukas in the starting line-up, tested FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwänke with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Birthday boy Lukas, who turned 23 on Tuesday, did better a short time later and pushed a cross from Ridle Baku over the line.
The Cologne team of coach Steffen Baumgart needed a quarter of an hour to recover from this deficit. Now the attacks became more determined, but Lower Saxony helped with the deserved compensation. Baku muddled the ball on the baseline, Modeste then headed off.
In stoppage time, the post saved a header from Timo Hübers against the defeated VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels. Kohfeldt trudged furiously through his coaching zone, the 39-year-old was more than upset about this mistake.
Weghorst meets simply – Modeste meets twice
But six minutes after starting again, his features relaxed again. Weghorst, most recently criticized by the North Germans, was successful with a low shot after a counterattack.
But this leadership did not really give the hosts any security. Cologne smelled the morning air and intensified the attack efforts. VfL now had little to oppose on the offensive, especially since Lukas Nmecha had to be replaced after 65 minutes due to problems with his right ankle.
VfL Wolfsburg – 1. FC Cologne: The voices
Florian Kohfeldt (coach VfL Wolfsburg): “We should have prevented all three goals. That was just not good of us. In many situations we played too complicated. We weren’t played out, but we didn’t work consistently enough in the duels.”
Steffen Baumgart (coach 1. FC Cologne): “We had a good depth in the game. 22 points are good, but it is much more important that there is good morale in the team. You could see that during the game. I wish Florian Kohfeldt that he can simply continue to work in peace.”
