The VfL Wolfsburg development squad drew 2-2 with Norwich City’s Under-23 side at Carrow Road in their final group game of this season’s Premier League International Cup. Thursday evening’s result means the Wolves finish the group with four points and remain top of Group C, but their rivals have games in hand. The six group winners and two best second-placed teams go through to the quarter-finals, so the Wolves will have to hope that other results go their way if they are to reach the last eight.
“First 35 minutes were really good”
VfL coach Ton Lokhoff: “We wanted to win the game to have a good chance of being in the quarter-finals. We did everything to get the three points. I was pleased with the first half even though we were a goal down at the break. We played particularly well in the first 35 minutes but the chances just didn’t want to go in. After half-time we were able to turn the game around quickly and went into a 2-1 lead after two very nice goals. Unfortunately we didn’t maintain that level to go on and score a third and maybe fourth goal. We dropped the pace too much and made too many mistakes in our build-up play, which encouraged the opposition. Overall, however, I’m pleased with the performance. We played good football for large parts of the game and battled hard. Ultimately the 2-2 draw isn’t enough, though, especially considering the chances we missed.”
Norwich City U23: McCracken – Kamal, Odusina, Jones, Richards – Phillips (79’ Coley), Payne – Jarvis (46’ Scully), Mclean (46’ Spyrou), Power – Oliviera.
VfL Wolfsburg development squad: Menzel – Badu (86’ Heuer), Ziegele, Franke, G.-L. Itter – Möker (50’ May), Seguin, Hanslik – Justvan, Kramer (82’ Wahlig), Saglam.
Goals: 1-0 Oliviera (35’), 1-1 Kramer (52’), 1-2 Hanslik (63’), 2-2 Spyrou (81’)
Yellow cards: Oliviera, Phillips / Seguin, Saglam, Kramer
Referee: Alan Dale
Attendance: 300 at Carrow Road Stadium
