First Team

Late goal not enough

Rogerio scored on his comeback but the Wolves slipped to a narrow defeat in Brighton.

VfL Wolfsburg suffered a 2-1 defeat at Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion in their final pre-season game of the summer prior to next week’s competitive start in the DFB Cup against SV Hemelingen (Saturday 16 August, kick-off 15:30 CEST).

The encounter, which was the teams’ second of the day, began in a cautious manner but VfL improved with time and got on the scoresheet late on via Rogerio, making his comeback after a lengthy injury lay-off. Paul Simonis’ charges pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages but Brighton held on for a narrow victory.

Team news

Both Simonis and Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler named a completely new starting XI at the American Express Stadium following VfL’s 2-0 loss in the behind-closed-doors friendly earlier in the day.

Goals

  • 1-0 Rutter (16’): Brighton take a deserved lead. Jan Paul van Hecke wins the ball in midfield and plays the decisive pass to Yasin Ayari on the edge of the area. He squares the ball to Georginio Rutter, whose excellent first touch sets him up to bury the ball into the far corner. 
     
  • 2-0 de Cuyper (73’): The Wolves are on top during this period of the game, but concede again. Mats Wieffer delivers a fizzing, low cross towards the far post. Kamil Grabara gets his fingertips to it but the ball lands at the feet of Maxim de Cuyper, who scores from a tight angle. 
     
  • 2-1 Rogerio (80’): Comeback on the cards? The Green-and-Whites quickly shake off the setback of conceding a second goal and get themselves back within touching distance. From the left, Patrick Wimmer finds Rogerio inside the box and he leaves Bart Verbruggen no chance with a powerful strike. 

Reaction

Paul Simonis: “Brighton were really strong, which is exactly what you want in pre-season, especially toward the end. I was very pleased with our performance in the second half. We took more initiative with the ball and were more aggressive in our pressing. That gave us more confidence and as a result we created a lot of chances and could have scored more than one goal. We’ve taken a big step forward over the past week. Hopefully that will give us energy for the season opener next week. I’m especially happy for Rogerio. If I could have chosen a goalscorer, it would have been him. It’s the reward for his hard work in the gym over the past few months.”

Line-up and stats 

Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen – Wieffer, van Hecke, Dunk, de Cuyper – Ayari, Gomez (78‘ Yalcouye), O’Riley – Minteh (74‘ Howell), Rutter (84‘ Sima), Mitoma

Subs: McGill (GK), Tzimas, Slater, Tasker, Albarus, Simmonds, Oriola, Nti

VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara – Fischer, Vavro, Koulierakis, Maehle – Arnold, Souza (69‘ Rogerio) – Skov Olsen, Majer, Wimmer – Amoura (64‘ Katz)

Subs: Pervan (GK), Benedict, Bürger, Neininger

Goals: 1-0 Rutter (16’), 2-0 de Cuyper (73’), 2-1 Rogerio (80’)

Yellow cards: Dunk, Minteh / -

Referee: Michael Salisbury