VfL Wolfsburg’s youth teams recorded contrasting results on Saturday. The U17s earned a 3-1 (1-1) victory away to Hamburger SV in the top-of-the-table clash to retain top spot. For the U19s, meanwhile, the return to league action ended in a 2-1 (1-1) home defeat to Arminia Bielefeld.
U17s cap successful week
The U17s made the better start away to their closest challengers in Hamburg. After a long ball from Henry Schönhoff, the young Wolves played through HSV’s press before Yvan Simo Kom won his one-on-one and slotted into the far corner to give his side the lead (29th minute). Shortly before the break, however, the hosts equalised: HSV worked their way to the byline and exploited the space in the Wolfsburg penalty area, with Stefanos Chrysovitsiotis making it 1-1 (44’). The hosts also posed a threat in the first half with well-timed runs in behind. After the break, VfL adjusted their pressing approach and were consequently able to exert more pressure. The Green-and-Whites kept the hosts further away from their own goal and defended their runs in behind more consistently. Following a foul on the edge of the penalty area and the resulting delivery, HSV failed to clear properly, allowing Luan Lazzara to convert the second ball to make it 2-1 (60’). The young Wolves then defended their lead as a unit. In the closing stages, VfL got into the penalty area once more and were awarded a penalty, which Lenn Grupe converted to complete the 3-1 scoreline (86’).
“A great team performance”
Christian Stegmaier: We defended very well as a team. Overall, it was a great team performance. That also goes for the boys who came on: everyone gave everything for each other. It was a fantastic week for us, with two convincing league wins and progression against JFV Calenberger Land in the NFV Cup. We’ve won the first half of the season, which is obviously valuable for us, but we want to follow that up with another good result against Holstein Kiel.
VfL Wolfsburg U17: Gruner – Jewtschuk, Schönhoff, Yinkfu Chuye (87. El Jurdi), Sauermann – Filbry (59. Garcia Noto), Padure – Zimmermann (87. Mhana), Gruppe (87. Ullrich), Lazzara (73. Isailovic) – Simo Kom
Goals: 1-0 Simo Kom (29’), 1-1 Chrysovitsiotis (44’), 1-2 Lazzara (60’), 1-3 Gruppe (86’ pen.)
U19s suffer defeat
The U19s also made a good start to their match against Arminia Bielefeld, enjoying more possession and creating chances. Their reward came shortly before half-time: following a cross from Saido Balde, Carl-Anton Sticherling headed towards goal at the far post, with a slight deflection taking the ball into the net for 1-0 (39’). The lead lasted just four minutes, however. Tom Schönfelder found the far corner to make it 1-1 before the interval (43’). The visitors made the better start after the break. A cross from the right reached Tadija Samardzic at the far post, who was unmarked as he headed home to make it 2-1 (53’). Niklas Bräuer responded by introducing Tim Neininger and Michael John as two fresh options (60’), with Elisee Blessing and Otto Paananen also entering the fray later on (74’). The hosts regained more control in the final half-hour but lacked the necessary purpose in front of the Bielefeld goal. The score therefore remained 2-1 until the final whistle.
“We have to learn from this”
Niklas Bräuer: We started the game well, had considerably more possession and kept creating chances. Even so, we need to be more purposeful with the ball when attacking the box and be more decisive once we get there. We were too passive after half-time and didn’t defend the goal that made it 2-1 well enough. In the end, it’s a deserved defeat because Bielefeld played and defended with greater maturity. We have to learn from this, take steps forward and become more mature ourselves.
VfL Wolfsburg U19: Pernis – Mandity, Saidykhan, Greger, Balde – Hint (60. Neininger), Furtado Brito – Paananen, Seretis (74. Blessing), Danioko (60. John), Peters (74. Paananen) – Sticherling
Goals: 1-0 Sticherling (39’), 1-1 Schönfelder (43’), 1-2 Samardzic (53’)
