VfL Wolfsburg went down to a 3-2 defeat at SC Freiburg on Matchday 26 of the Bundesliga. Despite coming from 2-0 down to level the score in the second half, it wasn’t enough in the end to get a point from the Black Forest. Vincenzo Grifo’s first-half brace put the hosts in front, but the Green-and-Whites were much more attacking in the second period and were rewarded through goals from Max Kruse (52’) and Maximilian Arnold (84’). Freiburg immediately hit back, though, with Nico Schlotterbeck netting the winner in the 87th minute.
It’s the 13th defeat of the season for the Wolves, who welcome Bayer 04 Leverkusen to the Volkswagen Arena on Sunday 20 March.
Goals
1-0 Grifo (7th minute): Grifo is fouled by Arnold as he makes his way forward. From the subsequent free-kick to the left of centre, he curls the ball towards the left corner with his right foot from around 25 metres, with too much pace for Pavao Pervan to keep it out.
2-0 Grifo (44’): After winning the ball in the Wolfsburg penalty area, Nicolas Höfler has time to cross from the left. Grifo is lurking at the far post to volley it home with his right foot.
2-1 Kruse (52’): Arnold feints to shoot but instead plays in the unmarked Kruse, who keeps his composure and sweeps the ball into the right corner.
2-2 Arnold (84’): The hosts fail to clear the ball out of the area. Schlotterbeck plays the ball directly to the feet of Arnold, and VfL’s record appearance maker smashes it into the left corner with the outside of his left foot from 13 metres.
3-2 N. Schlotterbeck (87’): The Green-and-Whites aren’t able to properly clear the ball and it lands on the chest of substitute Nils Petersen. His lay-off reaches Schlotterbeck, who finds the corner with a drop-kick from 18 metres.
Coaches’ reaction
Florian Kohfeldt: “The game can be divided into two parts. Freiburg deservedly led in the first half. Physically we weren’t up to it and we lacked freshness. In the second half, it was the complete opposite and we showed that we’ve developed as a team in recent weeks and can come back – with a completely different body language. I thought 2-2 would’ve been a fair reflection of the game. Overall the result is rather unfortunate for us because we could’ve got something.”
Christian Streich: “We had real pressure in this game. The three boys up front did a superb job. In the second half, Wolfsburg created a few chances and we saw the quality they have – as with the goal shortly after half-time. Overall it was a difficult game, so I’m very pleased that we still managed to win it. If it had finished 2-2, it wouldn’t have been undeserved either.”
Line-ups and stats
SC Freiburg: Flekken – Gulde, K. Schlotterbeck, N. Schlotterbeck – Schmid (83‘ Sildillia), Günter, Haberer (83‘ Sallai), Höfler, Höler, Grifo (90‘ Weißhaupt) – Demirovic (86‘ Petersen)
Subs: Uphoff (GK), K. Schmidt, Engelhardt
VfL Wolfsburg: Pervan – Lacroix, Bornauw (83’ Bialek), Brooks – Mbabu (76’ Baku), Arnold, Schlager (76‘ Vranckx), Roussillon (76‘ Steffen), Philipp (55‘ L. Nmecha), Kruse – Wind
Subs: Klinger (GK), Gerhardt, Lukebakio, Waldschmidt
Goals: 1-0 Grifo (7‘), 2-0 Grifo (44‘), 2-1 Kruse (52‘), 2-2 Arnold (84‘), 3-2 N. Schlotterbeck (87‘)
Yellow cards: N.Schlotterbeck, Haberer / -
Referee: Martin Petersen (Filderstadt)
Attendance: 25,000 at Europa-Park Stadion.
