VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt rounded off Bundesliga Matchday 23 with a 2-2 draw on Sunday evening. In a turbulent first half, Omar Marmoush gave VfL an early lead after 10 minutes before goals from Randal Kolo Muani (22´) and Evan Ndicka (26´) put Eintracht´s noses in front. However, Yannick Gerhardt netted a deserved equaliser two minutes before half-time as the Wolves slipped to eighth in the table.
Goals
- 1-0 Marmoush (10´): VfL make the perfect start! Gerhardt is quickest to a loose ball in midfield and sends Marmoush on his way. The forward beats Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp for pace and gives the Wolves an early lead.
- 1-1 Kolo Muani (22´): The visitors quickly restore parity having failed to trouble VfL much in the early stages. Aurelio Buta sends a perfect cross towards the back post and finds Kolo Muani, who gets the better of Ridle Baku and nods home.
- 1-2 Ndicka (26´): Frankfurt complete the turnaround. Sebastian Rode´s cross from the right is cleared by Paulo Otavio, but only as far as Ndicka. The defender takes a touch on the edge of the penalty area and powers a magnificent finish into the top-left corner.
- 2-2 Gerhardt (43´): Patrick Wimmer´s free-kick is met at the near post by Gerhardt, who beats Ndicka to the delivery and heads into the right corner.
Coaches’ reaction
Niko Kovac: “We saw a very, very good Bundesliga game from both teams today, especially in the first half. We started the game well with the first goal and implemented exactly what we’d wanted. I didn’t really like the fact that we were too passive afterwards and handed Eintracht back the initiative. They didn’t give us anything at all up until their second goal and the two goals we conceded were inevitable. The team reacted very well. We not only scored the equaliser but had two more chances through Omar Marmoush and Yannick Gerhardt. At the end of the day, it’s a result we’re quite happy with against Champions League opposition. We just need to take our chances to win games like these.”
Oliver Glasner: “It’s a fair result at the end of the day. Both teams put a lot into it and earned themselves the point. Wolfsburg took the lead quickly and then we reacted superbly. In the second half it felt like we were firmly in control without creating huge chances, and we ended up scoring a goal that was just offside. Wolfsburg were always a major threat, though. We had opportunities to win the game at the end. I think it’s an okay result for both sides and one I can gladly live with. Wolfsburg are a very good team and it’s really difficult here to score two goals and get a result.”
Line-ups and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Baku, Lacroix (74‘ Bornauw), van de Ven, Otavio – Arnold – Svanberg (85’ F. Nmecha), Gerhardt – Wimmer (67’ Paredes), Marmoush (85’ L. Nmecha), Kaminski
Subs: Klinger – Waldschmidt, Cozza, Wind, Guilavogui
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe, Ndicka – Buta (85‘ Knauff), Max (74‘ Lenz) – Rode (74‘ Jakic), Kamada – Lindström (85‘ Borre), Kolo Muani, Götze
Subs: Ramaj, Chandler, Smolcic, Aaronson, Alidou,
Goals: 1-0 Marmoush (10‘), 1-1 Kolo Muani (22‘), 1-2 Ndicka (26‘), 2-2 Gerhardt (43‘)
Yellow cards: Wimmer, Arnold, Otavio / Götze, Rode, Jakic
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Hügelsheim)
Attendance: 27,853 at Volkswagen Arena
