The point was the least the home side deserved after creating the greater chances and dominating for large parts of the game. Eintracht looked to have snatched a win when Jonathan de Guzman broke the deadlock against the run of play (78’) but Brooks popped up with an equaliser late on, his third goal of the season. The draw keeps the Green-Whites in ninth place ahead of next Sunday’s trip to TSG Hoffenheim (kick-off 15:30 CEST).
William returns to replace Roussillon
Head coach Bruno Labbadia made three changes to the team that started at RB Leipzig on Matchday 29. Fit-again William replaced the injured Jérôme Roussillon at left-back, while Yannick Gerhardt and Daniel Ginczek were preferred to Elvis Rexhbecaj and Renato Steffen – Ginczek making his first competitive start of 2019.
Wolves with the better chances
The first big opportunity arrived on 10 minutes when Gerhardt picked out Wout Weghorst, whose low finish was blocked on the line by Makoto Hasebe. The frequency of chances increased as the half progressed and Gerhardt himself could have done better with a header from Admir Mehmedi’s cross in the 31st minute. Shortly after, the ever-threatening Weghorst brought a fine save out of Kevin Trapp with a brilliant first-time volley on the swivel. The visitors’ best opportunity – and the last notable action of the first half – fell to Goncalo Paciencia, whose firm header from close range was well tipped over by Pavao Pervan.
Brooks to the rescue
The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Wolves increasingly dominating proceedings. Set pieces in particular were proving to be a dangerous outlet for Labbadia’s men and it was from a corner that Robin Knoche headed against the bar in the 57th minute. That signalled the start of a spell of home pressure, and VfL were denied by the woodwork again in the 64th minute when Maximilian Arnold struck the post with a long-range volley. The Wolves were left to rue those missed chances when Eintracht took the lead against the run of play in the 78th minute. Filip Kostic’s shot was deflected and fell kindly into the path of substitute de Guzman, who tucked the ball past Pervan. However, VfL fought back and salvaged a point when Klaus broke down the right and picked out the run of Brooks, who tapped in from close range to send the fans home happy.
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Tisserand (Steffen 82’), Brooks, Knoche, William – Arnold, Gerhardt (Malli 64’), Guilavogui – Mehmedi – Weghorst, Ginczek (Klaus 86’)
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham, Hasebe, Falette – da Costa, Rode (de Guzman 69‘), Torro, Kostic – Gacinovic – Paciencia (Toure 90+1’), Jovic (Rebic 69‘)
Goals: de Guzman (78’), Brooks (90’)
Yellow cards: Arnold, Tisserand / Jovic, Rode, Paciencia
Attendance: 26,102
Referee: Marco Fritz (Korb)
