VfL Wolfsburg celebrated their third win within a week with their new coach Florian Kohfeldt. There was a hard-fought 1-0 victory against FC Augsburg.
Florian Kohfeldt kneaded Lukas Nmecha’s shoulders almost caringly – because he had made the dream week of the new head coach of VfL Wolfsburg perfect. Nmecha’s goal (14th) secured the 1-0 (1-0) win against FC Augsburg, which was, however, flattering. The FCA would have deserved at least one point because of the second half.
“The victory cost a lot of nerves,” stated Wolfsburg’s sports director Marcel Schäfer at Sky, “we could have made it easier for us in the second half.” Because there were enough chances in the first 45 minutes.
Fortunately, the goal run by Nmecha, which was nominated for the senior national team by national coach Hansi Flick for the first time on Friday and which underpinned his ambitions for the DFB team with the goal, also held.
Schäfer: “Lukas is with us for the second time. He is significantly more mature, has become more self-confident. He fully justified the trust that was placed in him.” Striker Nmecha was successful with a header after a cross from Paulo Otavio. Wolfsburg moved up from seventh to fourth place in the table at least by Sunday.
Augsburg struggles: only played football behind
The Bavarian Swabians were disappointed. “We had a lot of opportunities, the last pass and the last consequence were missing,” said Andre Hahn about the FCA team, who appeared transformed in the second half to show that we can play football. ” They did that in the second 45 minutes, but that wasn’t enough to win a point.
In front of 16,095 spectators, the hosts took the reins of action even before the 1-0. In this phase, the FCA, constantly under pressure, could only react and concentrate on ensuring that the gap did not increase.
Wolfsburg’s chances to score increased. Paulo Otavio hit the side netting (22nd), VfL record player Maximilian Arnold forced Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz (31st) to make a brilliant save with a free kick. Just 60 seconds later, Sebastiaan Bornauw missed a good chance of scoring with a header.
A dangerous free kick by Daniel Caligiuri (34th) initiated a game turn. The guests were now bolder and forced Wolfsburg more and more to lose balls and bad passes.
Kohfeldt, who until then had followed the game rather calmly, was now restless. But the hosts often acted hastily and were only anxious to save themselves into the half-time break without conceding a goal.
But even after changing sides, the picture did not change. The team of coach Markus Weinzierl was more grippy in the duels. The room layout was also much better. Andi Zeqiri equalized in the 52nd minute, VfL captain Koen Casteels cleared with a quick reaction.
VfL Wolfsburg – FC Augsburg: The line-ups
Wolfsburg: Casteels – Bornauw, Guilavogui, Brooks – R. Baku, Arnold, Paulo Otavio, Gerhardt, R. Steffen, L. Nmecha – Weghorst
VfL Wolfsburg – FC Augsburg: The voices of the coach
Florian Kohfeldt (Wolfsburg coach): “The first 45 minutes were our best first half of the week. In the second half, we shouldn’t have complained about the equalizer. We weren’t good enough in terms of football. But it was good that we had the mentality.”
Markus Weinzierl (Augsburg trainer): “After this game we have to take a point, it was even possible to turn the game around. But if you always fall behind quickly, it becomes difficult. You can build on the second half, but we need more effectiveness.”
