After an exciting and eventful clash, VfL Wolfsburg snatched a 4-3 victory in the last second against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Sunday afternoon, thereby moving above the 05ers into the European places. Having fallen three behind three times, twice to Paul Nebel (11’, 66’) and once to Jonathan Burkardt (39’), the Green-and-Whites levelled each time through Mohammed Amoura (19’), Tiago Tomas (57’) and Jonas Wind (84’), who then delighted the home crowd with the winner deep into added time.
Goals
- 0-1 Nebel (11’): Mainz lead. After Maximilian Arnold loses the ball, Nebel is played in nicely by Jae-sung Lee and drives into the penalty area before slotting the ball past a helpless Kamil Grabara.
- 1-1 Amoura (19’): Tomas does well on the left-hand side of the penalty area. His ball across goal is only pushed out by goalkeeper Robin Zentner and Amoura is in the right place to put away the rebound.
- 1-2 Burkardt (39’): Agony for the Wolves as Mainz retake the lead. Anthony Caci sends in a cross from the right, which Nebel flicks on with the back of his head – and Burkardt just has to bundle the ball over the line.
- 2-2 Tomas (57’): Yes! VfL force the equaliser! It’s started by a great run by Amoura down the right flank and this time he picks out Tomas, whose first-time effort flies into the net via a deflection off Andreas Hanche-Olsen.
- 2-3 Nebel (66’): This can’t be happening! Mainz go in front for the third time and again it’s Nebel who shows quick reactions. From a long ball, Burkardt arches the ball over Grabara, who manages to claw it off the line in artistic style. However, he can’t do anything to stop Nebel from tapping in for his first brace as a professional.
- 3-3 Wind (84’): The super-sub strikes again and VfL draw level for the third time! Wind releases his pent-up frustration with the finish, hammering the ball into the left corner after being set up by Joakim Maehle. Is there more left in it?
- 4-3 Wind (90’+4): Yes there is! Wind blows away Mainz! Unbelievably, the Green-and-Whites turn around this incredible match in the dying seconds. Arnold’s free-kick from the left finds the head of the Dane in the six-yard box and he heads it in to make it 4-3. There’s a nervy wait for an offside check but the goal survives the VAR review.
Reactions
Ralph Hasenhüttl: “It was a big game today between two teams who gave nothing away and showed their qualities. We had to be very effective because we knew we weren’t going to get lots of chances. Mainz did a brilliant job with and without the ball. It was clear it was going to be a very tough game. To have that energy after a cup game in midweek and to turn a game around three times is impressive to say the least. Huge credit to my team.”
Bo Henriksen: “It was a crazy game. We’re obviously disappointed because we produced a really good performance today – against a really good team. When you look at the statistics, we were better in all the important metrics. Wolfsburg’s efficiency was incredible: they scored four goals from five chances, which is really, really good. Normally we should get a point or even three from a game like that, but that’s football sometimes. The most important thing for us is that we played good football in the half-spaces, but obviously we also need to defend a bit better in the last 10 minutes.”
