DFB-Pokal
Wolfsburg (AP) – At the end of a strong first phase of the season, VfL Wolfsburg has once again shown its footballing skills and confidently reached the round of 16 in the DFB Cup.
The fourth in the table in the Bundesliga defeated SV Sandhausen, despite Corona worries and numerous failures, deservedly 4-0 (3-0). Yannick Gerhardt in the 27th minute, Wout Weghorst (30./90.+1) and João Victor (41.) scored the goals for coach Oliver Glasner’s team, who were superior in all respects. Second division relegation candidate Sandhausen could not keep up and was completely harmless in attack.
“I am very satisfied,” said Glasner. “It was a great performance by us today.” The Austrian said his team had full control of the game.
Shortly before the kick-off, the wolves announced the next Corona case. After Maximilian Arnold, Jérôme Roussillon and William, central defender Maxence Lacroix had also tested positive for the virus. In total, Glasner had to do without eleven players, in Niklas Klinger and Lino Kasten two regular goalkeepers with field player jerseys sat on the bench. At Sandhausen, Captain Dennis Diekmeier injured himself while warming up and could not run up.
Despite the staff worries, Wolfsburg took control directly in the drizzle. The Lower Saxony combined easily thanks to the SVS’s back team. Between the 14th and 21st minute, Sandhausen’s Alexander Rossipal saved just before the line, and guest goalkeeper Rick Wulle prevented the 1-0 three times.
But then the 26-year-old was powerless. Diekmeier representative Robin Scheu faked a shot from Gerhardt untenable. A little later Weghorst headed the second VfL goal and at the latest when João Victor had scored the 3-0, it was clear: That evening, the weak exploitation of opportunities in the early stages for Wolfsburg should not take revenge.
The will could not be denied Sandhausen. The guests showed commitment in the duels and tried to support themselves as much as they could against enthusiastic Wolfsburg players. However, they couldn’t do anything against VfL’s superiority in defense or with their harmless offensive.
Wolfsburg, on the other hand, played with a comfortable 3-0 in the back and came through Weghorst in stoppage time to 4-0. After the pre-Christmas victory, there is now a short break. On January 3rd, the next opponent in the Bundesliga is Borussia Dortmund.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201223-99-801311 / 3
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