Wolfsburg. Fourth game in 2024, fourth draw: It is uncertain whether that will be enough for VfL coach Niko Kovac to continue working as coach of the Bundesliga club. In the 2-2 (0-1) draw against TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday, the 52-year-old at least showed a good nose by subbing in Lovro Majer, as the Croatian international livened up the offensive game and scored a brace. However, the fact that Lower Saxony only recorded two wins from the last 14 games could be too heavy a burden for the coach.
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Kovac, who has come under criticism, is unlikely to have done any self-promotion with the sporting leadership due to his team’s weak performance over long stretches. The VfL fans among the 22,917 spectators often expressed their displeasure with their team’s sporting activities by whistling.
Both teams have been languishing in everyday Bundesliga life in the past few weeks. Before the appearance in the VW city, Hoffenheim had only managed one win from the last ten games. Coach Kovac is still under a lot of pressure. For VfL, who started the season with European Cup ambitions, the current situation does not match their high goals.
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Whistle protest by VfL fans
It was the same at the start of the game. Amid the home fans’ deafening whistle protest against the Bundesliga’s investor deal, Beier provided a loud signal for the guests to leave. The fine technician dribbled around the unfortunate-looking Sebastiaan Bornauw and then shot low into the net.
A setback for Kovac. Managing director Marcel Schäfer expressed his confidence in the coach before the game and said that together they believed in the turnaround. To initiate this, the hosts strengthened themselves in the winter with attacker Kevin Behrens. “With Kevin it’s the case that he’s in the feed,” praised Kovac on DAZN. The entry from league rivals 1. FC Union Berlin, who played from the start, remained pale for long stretches.
On the other hand, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo expected ex-Wolfsburg player Wout Weghorst to provide the right bite in the attack and also put returnee Ozan Kabak in the starting line-up. Hoffenheim seemed more stable than VfL in the first half. Even if Wolfsburg repeatedly caused danger. Wind (20th) failed at the post and at the well-disposed Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann (30th). After about 30 minutes, referee Florian Badstübner stopped the game because VfL fans had thrown small objects onto the field. Shortly afterwards things continued. In terms of sport, things remained manageable.
Majer scores twice as a joker
Majer brought new life into the game when he curled a low shot into the goal. Captain Maximilian Arnold’s mistake after goalkeeper Koen Casteels’ pass helped Prömel take the visitors’ lead again. Majer then scored the final point with a penalty kick after he himself had been pushed by Stanley Nsoki. Kaderabek blocked a promising shot from Rogerio with his abdomen, had to blow through it briefly and that was it.
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VfL Wolfsburg – 1899 Hoffenheim 2:2 (0:1)
VfL: Casteels – Maehle (55. Baku), Bornauw, Jenz, Rogério – Vranckx (56. Majer), Arnold, Cerny (46. Svanberg), Paredes – Behrens (84. Pejcinovic), Wind.
Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kaderabek, Kabak, Brooks, Nsoki – Stach, Prömel, Tohumcu (65. Skov), Beier (90.+2 Bülter) – Weghorst (65. Bebou), Kramaric (86. Conté).
Referee: Florian Badstübner (Windsbach) – spectators: 22917.
Goals: 0:1 Beier (6th), 1:1 Majer (58th), 1:2 Prömel (66th), 2:2 Majer (70th/foul penalty).
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Gelb: Jenz (3), Major (3) / Kabak (6), Nsoki (1), Brooks (5)
AZ/WAZ
2024-02-04 16:52:06
#victory #VfL #coach #Kovac #worried #job #good #nose
