Oliver Glasner’s starting line-up showed three changes from the 3-2 win at VfB Stuttgart last weekend. Martin Hinteregger replaced the injured Makoto Hasebe in defence and as captain while Danny da Costa was preferred to Timothy Chandler on the right flank. Fit-again Daichi Kamada came in for Sebastian Rode, but Filip Kostic was only on the bench following his illness.
Wolfsburg lead against the run of play
With 10,000 in attendance at Deutsche Bank Park, the Eagles almost landed an early blow in the third minute. A chipped ball over the top caused confusion in the Wolfsburg box, but neither Kristijan Jakic or Rafael Santos Borré could turn it in and the Wolves defence managed to clear. Jakic had the next opportunity on 10 minutes, volleying into the side netting after a corner ran through to him.
Eintracht continued to look the more threatening side but without creating any clear-cut chances, and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock out of nothing. A free-kick was initially awarded after Hinteregger upended Max Kruse, but the video assistant ruled that the foul took place inside the area and Kruse himself converted the penalty (28’). The Eagles pushed for an equaliser before the break but other than Jesper Lindström’s brilliant solo run and shot, which was saved by Koen Casteels (41’), they were thwarted by the Wolves’ rearguard.
No way through
The second half continued in a similar fashion, with Eintracht probing but struggling to penetrate the heavily manned Wolfsburg defence in the final third. The contest also became rather scrappy and stop-start, with Glasner using up all five of his substitutions and the visitors taking any opportunity they could to run down the clock.
In fact, it was the Wolves who had the better openings on the counter. Dodi Lukebakio volleyed wide when the ball came to him quickly in the penalty area (78’), before the Belgian wrapped up the result in the third of six minutes of added time. Hinteregger inadvertently headed the ball backwards for Lukebakio to run onto, and he volleyed past Kevin Trapp from a tight angle at the near post.
Summary: Frustrating afternoon
Eintracht failed to capitalise on their dominant opening and once Wolfsburg had gone in front, they successfully set out to frustrate their hosts. The Eagles didn’t create any notable chances in the second half, with VfL scoring out of nothing again to compound matters.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Da Costa (Knauff 70’), Jakic (Hrustic 85’), Sow, Lenz (Kostic 62’) – Lindström, Kamada (Hauge 85’) – Borré (Paciencia 70’)
Goals
0-1 Kruse (28’ pen)
0-2 Lukebakio (90+3’)
