Football United

A dramatic last minute strike by the Argentine striker Diego Fernando Klimowicz, kept VfL Wolfsburg sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga table this afternoon, as the Wolves ran out the 2-1 winners over Kaiserslautern in front of 20,000 in the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg.So Erik Gerets was able to put one over on his former club and was wearing the biggest grin in the VOLKSWAGENARENA after the final whistle had been blown!

Cautious start
Both sides began cautiously in this Bundesliga round 6 tie, with neither team prepared to take any risks early on. The visitors were well aware of the danger presented by the Wolfsburg midfield general Andres D’Alessandro, and the busy midfielder could only be stopped by fouls.

Petrov on the mark
On of those fouls led to a free kick some 25 yards outside the Lautern box on 13 minutes. The Bulgarian international midfielder Martin Petrov fired in the free kick and the Kaiserslautern keeper Ernst let it bounce over his body and into the net to give the Wolves the lead.

Wolves on top
Another foul on D’Allesandro in an identical position to the one just moments before, gave another free kick to Wolfsburg. Once again it was Petrov who tried his luck, but this time the former Bayern Munich and Germany striker Carsten Jancker bravely headed clear from inside his own penalty box.

Double injury blow
After only 18 minutes Pablo Thiam, the Wolfsburg influential defensive midfielder limped off holding his right thigh with what looked like a hamstring problem. He was replaced by Hans Sarpei. Shortly afterwards disaster struck again for Erik Gerets and his Wolfsburg side as Andres D’Alessandro also had to be taken off as an old groin injury flared up again. The little Argentinean was replaced by his compatriot Juan Carlos Menseguez.

Lautern hit the woodwork
Just before the half time break, the visitors began to gain some momentum and had the home side on the back foot for a while. They created a couple of half chances, the best of which saw the Turkish striker Altintop hit the top of the Wolfsburg bar from long distance, with Simon Jentzsch in the home goal well beaten. As it was though, the Wolves went into the break one goal up.

Kaiserslautern improve
Kaiserslautern came out for the second half and made a better start than the home side. Good work by Zandi down the right wing ended in a pinpoint cross onto the foot of the inrushing Altintop, who blasted his shot over from only six yards out, much to the disappointment of the 2,000 or so Lautern fans who had made the long trip to Wolfsburg.

Sarpei goes close
Five minutes after half time it was Wolfsburg’s turn to show their menace. The visitors failed to clear their lines, and Hans Sarpei showed silky skills as he got the ball, turned and fired in a long distance half volley from all of 30 yards out which crashed back into play off the inside of Ernst’ right hand post with the Lautern keeper nowhere.

Kaiserslautern draw level
On 82 minutes they were rewarded for their endeavour as Engelhardt crossed to the far post from the right wing. In stole Carsten Jancker unmarked to gleefully slot home his second goal of the season and bring his side back into the match.

Klimowicz at the death
The Lautern joy was however short lived. In the very last minute, a mix up in the Lautern defence caused by a Topic free kick, found its way to Klimowicz at the near post, who scored the winner from only 2 yards out. Lautern will count themselves a little unlucky not to have taken a point home with them, but as they say, that’s football.

WOLFBURG: Jentzsch; Quiroga, Hofland, Schnoor, Weiser; Karhan, Thiam, M. Petrov; D'Alessandro; Brdaric, Klimowicz.

KAISERSLAUTERN: T. Ernst; Hertzsch, Lembi, Wenzel; Riedl, Grammozis, Engelhardt, Teber; Zandi; Jancker, Halil Altintop.

GOALS: 1-0, M. Petrov (13'); 1-1, Jancker (82'); 2-1, Klimowicz (90')

Source: wfl-wolfsburg.de