1. FC Köln won the game at VfL Wolfsburg from behind and remain undefeated in the Bundesliga. The wolves are in the relegation zone after the 5th matchday.
The 4:2 (3:1) move the Cologne team into the top third of the table and they have nine points after five games. Wolfsburg, on the other hand, is still in crisis and is in the relegation zone with two points without a win.
Lukas Nmecha scored twice for Wolfsburg (2’/79′), Dejan Ljubicic (11′), Paulo Otávio (32′, own goal), Florian Kainz (45+2, penalty) and Sargis Adamyan (81′) scored for Cologne. “We came back well after conceding the early goal and played well”said Cologne’s Jonas Hector on ARD radio.
Wolfsburg’s lead doesn’t last long
Wolfsburg took the lead shortly after the kick-off: Bartol Franjić released Lukas Nmecha from the right, who shot the ball from a tight angle into the left corner of FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe’s goal (2′).
But the Cologne team got better quickly and turned the game around. Kingsley Schindler and Florian Kainz staged Dejan Ljubicic on the right in the penalty area, who slotted in freely in front of Coen Casteels on the bottom left to make it 1-1 (11th). A co-production by Wolfsburg defender Paulo Otávio and goalkeeper Casteels gave Cologne the lead: FC captain Jonas Hector brought the ball into the penalty area from the left, Otávio’s attempt to clear the ball failed and the ball rebounded from Casteels into the Wolfsburg goal (32′).
The own goal was followed by a penalty for Cologne: Luca Waldschmidt brought down Jan Thielmann from Cologne. Referee Matthias Jöllenbeck decided on a penalty after looking at the pictures, Kainz converted confidently (45 + 2).
Cologne’s Adamyan makes the decision
In the second half, the game initially lost its entertainment drastically – but then Wolfsburg stepped up and scored. Mattias Svanberg skillfully defended the ball and played it perfectly into the run of Lukas Nmecha, who consistently scored the 2:3 against Schwäbe (79th). “We can also deal well with negative experiences”said Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart. “Coming back right after the goal, staying on right after the connecting gate – the lads did a good job.”
Wolfsburg’s Lukas Nmecha (M) plays against Cologne’s Timo Hübers (r) and Dejan Ljubicic.
Almost in return, however, FC closed the sack: Sargis Adamyan picked up a long pass from Kainz and put it past Casteels on the right (81′).
Cologne in Nice and against Union, Wolfsburg to Frankfurt
For 1. FC Köln, the group stage of the Europa Conference League continues on Thursday (September 8th, 2022, 6:45 p.m.). The FC travels to the Cote d’Azur to OGC Nice.
In the Bundesliga, Cologne will not play Union Berlin on Matchday 6 until Sunday (3:30 p.m.). Wolfsburg plays Saturday (3.30 p.m.) at Eintracht Frankfurt.