VfL Wolfsburg – 1. FC Köln 2: 4: next bankruptcy! Kovac slides into the crisis with Wolfsburg

1. FC Köln has exacerbated the crisis of the highly regarded VfL Wolfsburg. The Rhinelanders won 4:2 (3:1) and let the Lower Saxony fall to 16th place in the table.

Steffen Baumgart blew properly, straightened his cap and then hugged his players. Although they completely overslept the initial phase against VfL Wolfsburg, 1. FC Köln then overran the Werkself. In the end there was a well-deserved 4:2 (3:1), FC remain undefeated in this Bundesliga season and are in fifth place.

“We should leave the church in the village and remain humble,” said Cologne’s Florian Kainz sky and stepped on the brakes on euphoria. And while Baumgart and Co. were celebrated by the fans who had traveled with them, Niko Kovac and his shockingly weak team were whistled at.

Dejan Ljubicic (11th), Paulo Otavio with an own goal (32nd), Kainz with a penalty kick (45th + 2nd) and Sargis Adamjan (81st) scored for FC. Lukas Nmecha’s goals (2nd/79th) were not enough for the wolves.

“After falling behind we were unsure,” admitted Kainz, “but we recovered quickly and then played a really good game.”

FC (9 points) went through the first five games of a season without defeat for the first time in six years. Wolfsburg slipped down to 16th place with two points. Kovac conceded the third defeat in the still young season.

1. FC Köln is coming back to VfL Wolfsburg

In front of 25,654 spectators, the people of Cologne had completely overslept the start. Wölfe newcomer Bartol Franjic served Nmecha wonderfully in the run, the national player took aim straight away and scored his second goal of the season in the far corner – Nmecha had to pause during the week.

But FC was only impressed for a short time, shook off the shock and then reported back really strongly. Consequently, Ljubicic scored the deserved equalizer after a nice combination. It was also the second goal of the season for the Austrian.

The opening goal just ten minutes later was strange, but no longer came as a surprise: Jonas Hector sharply crossed inside, Otavio wanted to clear, played the ball against his keeper Koen Casteels, the ball bounced back to Otavio’s foot – and from there into the goal.

It fit into the Wolfsburg image that referee Matthias Jöllenbeck gave the Cologne team a penalty kick shortly before half-time after video evidence. Kainz converted confidently after Luca Waldschmidt stepped on Jan Thielmann’s foot. Whistles accompanied the Wolfsburg on the way to the dressing room.

After that, the game rippled along. Wolfsburg surrendered to their fate, Cologne only did what was necessary – and still had a few chances. Lukas Nmecha managed the connection goal, Adamjan’s counterattack made everything clear.

VfL Wolfsburg – 1. FC Cologne: The coaches’ voices

Niko Kovac (VfL Wolfsburg coach): “We started well, but we made life difficult ourselves again. We make too many mistakes that are punished in the Bundesliga. We have to stay calm and look ahead.”

Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “We’re very happy with the performance and the result. We managed to turn the game around. I don’t think we leave the pitch undeservedly as winners.”

VfL Wolfsburg – 1. FC Cologne: The data for the game

VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Bornauw, Guilavogui, van de Ven – Baku, Franjic, Arnold, Paulo Otavio, Kruse – Waldschmidt, Nmecha

1. FC Cologne: Schwäbe – Schindler, Kilian, Hübers, Hector – Skhiri, Ljubicic, Duda, Kainz – Thielmann, Tigges

Referee: dr Matthias Joellenbeck (Fribourg)

Gates: 1: 0 Nmecha (2nd), 1: 1 Ljubicic (22nd), 1: 2 Paulo Otavio (32nd, own goal), 1: 3 Kainz (45th + 2, penalty after video evidence), 2: 3 Felix Nmecha (79′), 2-4 Adamyan (81′)

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