Match day 1: FC suffer narrow defeat

FC Köln lost 1-2 (1-0) to VfL Wolfsburg in their Bundesliga season opener. Milivoje Novakovic put the visitors a goal up in front of 29,085 fans in Wolfsburg (20'), but Christian Gentner (48') and Zvjezdan Misimovic (78') managed to turn the game back in the hosts favour.

Strong start

In an entertaining opening phase, FC began bravely and had their first sight of goal after just six minutes but Milivoje Novakovic was unable to make use of a cross from the right from former Wolfsburg man Sergiu Radu. The hosts then began to press and Köln keeper Faryd Mondragon was twice called into action to clear two long distance efforts from Jonathan Santana (7' / 11').

'Nova' on target

Trainer Christoph Daum's side proved determined, refusing to allow their opponents to settle on the ball and eventually the Wolfsburg defence began to show cracks. With 20 minutes on the clock, FC were to be rewarded for their determination. Radu won the ball on the left after a cross from Ümit Özat and fed striker Novakovic who headed home powerfully from the centre of the penalty area to make it 1-0 for FC Köln. VfL only managed to get one more real sight of goal in the first half but with Ashkan Dejagah being denied by Mondragon (41'), the visitors took their lead into the break.

'Wolves' explosive re-start

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath apparently found the right words during the break and his 'Wolves' came out determinedly for the second half. With just two minutes of the second period played, Mondragon cleared from substitute Mahir Saglik but a minute later the keeper found himself fishing the ball out of the back of his net. Dejagah broke down the right and set through Sascha Riether, whose shot Mondragon was able to parry, but the loose ball fell to Gentner who drove home to make it 1-1.

Misimovic settles the tie

Following the equaliser, FC managed to free themselves from the offensive pressure being put on them by the home side but were unable to find an effective way forward themselves. The home side had a couple of chances to take the lead but finally managed to turn the tie in their favour as Misimovic caught Mondragon wrong footed and slotted inside the near post to put VfL in front (78'). Daum introduced Adil Chihi, Nemanja Vucicevic and Matthias Scherz in search of an equaliser but on the day there was to be no joy for FC. In the end Köln were left to deal with a 1-2 defeat against one of this seasons favourites to take the Bundesliga title.


The team line-ups

VfL Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Zaccardo (46' Riether), Ricardo Costa, Barzagli, Schäfer - Josué - Hasebe (46' Saglik), Gentner (90' Rodrigo Alvim), Santana - Misimovic - Dejagah

1. FC Köln: Mondragon - Ümit Özat, Geromel, Mohamad, Wome - Petit - Brecko (79' Vucicevic), Broich (86' Scherz) - Antar - Novakovic, Radu (72' Chihi)