Late goals from Julian Draxler and Anthony Modeste negated each other as VfL Wolfsburg and 1. FC Köln drew on Sunday at the Volkswagen Arena. Köln emerge with their first point of the new year after getting dominated in possession but persistently harrassing their opponents with a pressing defence and vigorous counter-attacking.
Köln manager Peter Stöger said after the match that "the lads played great" and that the club "can live with a point against Wolfsburg."
Horn stands ground in scoreless first half
Wolfsburg got out on the attack early, controlling possession over Köln. However, the Billy Goats played a pressing style of defense and quickly countered when they got the chance.
Modeste was making healthy runs for Köln, however the team were unable to successfully connect with him on a counter-attacking through ball, with plays either being called offside or balls soaring just out of the French striker's grasp.
In the 14th minute, Wolfsburg's Max Kruse saw a phenomenal chance at goal after a Draxler ball led him inside the box, but Kruse's zooming left-footed effort was saved very impressively by Timo Horn, deflected up and away from point blank range.
That sequence was one of numerous saves by Horn that kept it drawn at 0-0 by half time, as Köln's phenomenal keeper dazzled with his quick reactions and defections in the first 45.
Modeste negates Wolfsburg's controlling second half
The chances for Wolfsburg started pouring on soon after the start of the second half, starting in the 51st minute. Kruse's misfortune inside the box was added to when his volley from close range found its way right into the arms of Horn.
Diego Benaglio began to get tested by Modeste soon after, saving the Köln man's header off a 54th-minute corner. A minute later, Luiz Gustavo hit the far post with a skillful touch off Sebastian Jung's pass for the Wolves. But Modeste came right back seven minutes later and failed to convert on a headed chance from six yards out.
Nicklas Bendtner came on for Kruse in the 66th, and the Lord's luck brought Wolfsburg a goal to break the ice a minute later. Draxler volleyed home a Vieirinha cross in the 67th minute to finally beat Horn and take a 1-0 lead with just over 20 minutes remaining in the match.
But Köln struck right back in the 75th minute, Modeste receiving a pass from Leonardo Bittencourt and curling it into the far corner past Benaglio after a single touch to equalize at one apiece. The score was Modeste's ninth of the season.
Neither side was able to pack on another score in the final 15, leaving FC Köln with their first point of 2016 while Wolfsburg are left to ponder another disappointing result in front of their home supporters.
Wolfsburg now sit seventh in the Bundesliga table with 27 points while Köln are two slots behind at ninth with 25 points.