VfL Wolfsburg came away from Borussia-Park with a point after a thrilling contest against their near rivals in the table. Florian Kohfeldt’s side took a two-goal lead through Jonas Wind’s second for the club (6’) and Sebastiaan Bornauw’s maiden VfL goal (36’), before Marcus Thuram pulled one back for Gladbach shortly before the break (42’). In a dramatic finale to the match, the Wolves were reduced to 10 men after a disputable sending off for Maxence Lacroix – and then conceded a late equaliser from substitute Breel Embolo (90’). Xaver Schlager made his comeback from a long-term injury.
Next Saturday (5 March, kick-off 15:30 CET), the Wolves host Union Berlin at the Volkswagen Arena on Matchday 25.
Goals
0-1 Wind (6th minute): The Wolves get off to the perfect start! Maximilian Arnold and Max Kruse are involved as the ball is worked forward down the right before Ridle Baku delivers a brilliant cross into the box. Wind beats Matthias Ginter to the ball to net his second goal of the season from close range. Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer gets a hand to it, but is unable to keep it out.
0-2 Bornauw (35th minute): VfL are in clinical mood! Maximilian Philipp swings a corner in from the left and Bornauw rises highest to head the ball in from six yards and register his first competitive goal for Wolfsburg.
1-2 Thuram (42nd minute): Gladbach get a foothold in the game. A mistake in VfL’s build-up play allows Borussia back into the match as Thuram leaps higher than Baku to connect with a cross from the right and head in his first goal of the campaign.
2-2 Embolo (82nd minute): No! After making several outstanding saves, Koen Casteels is beaten again. A cross from the right goes to the back post, where Bornauw can’t quite beat substitute Embolo, who nods the ball over the line from close range.
Coaches’ reaction
Florian Kohfeldt: “It was a decent performance 11 against 11. Even though we didn’t win as many balls high up, we defended well. Gladbach’s first goal came after we’d won the ball. Then we had a huge chance before half-time to make it 3-1 – we had to score that. Going in 2-1 up was an okay scoreline at half-time. Then the second half was okay but we had two or three contentious decisions go against us: a clear penalty for [Max] Kruse, and no red card for [Maxence] Lacroix. The handball was indisputable but there was a clear foul beforehand by [Marcus] Thuram, who was clinging onto him until the last moment. With the final goal, too, ‘Rouss’ had his leg taken away. So, it’s a shame. We stood up well to the intense pressure that Gladbach built up, especially when it was 11 against 10. Unfortunately we conceded the goal, but we kept fighting until the end and got a point out of it. Given how the game panned out, it’s a deserved, good and important point for us.”
Adi Hütter: “We saw an attractive Bundesliga game between two teams who, because of their quality, shouldn’t be where they are in the table. There were a lot of controversial situations, but despite all that it was a high-quality match. Wolfsburg should’ve gone 3-1 up before the break, but they didn’t and then we really should’ve claimed the win with the extra man.”
Line-ups and stats
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Sommer – Ginter, Elvedi, Beyer – Lainer (81' Herrmann), Kramer (60' Kone), Neuhaus, Bensebaini – Hofmann, Plea – Thuram (77' Embolo)
Subs: Sippel (GK), Netz, Scally, Benes, Noß, Bennetts
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Lacroix, Bornauw, Brooks – Baku (58' Mbabu), Arnold, Vranckx (58' Schlager), Roussillon – Kruse (78' Steffen), Philipp (46' Gerhardt) – Wind
Subs: Pervan (GK), F. Nmecha, Waldschmidt, Lukebakio, Bialek
Goals: 0-1 Wind (6'), 0-2 Bornauw (32'), 1-2 Thuram (42'), 2-2 Embolo (82')
Yellow cards: Sommer, Beyer / Philipp, Baku, Casteels, Gerhardt
Red card: Lacroix (70')
Referee: Tobias Reichel (Stuttgart)
Attendance: 10,000 at Borussia-Park
