Ginczek rescues Nürnberg late point to deny Wolfsburg
Nürnberg - Hosts Nürnberg remained without a win this season but picked up a well-deserved point after a second-half fightback to draw 1-1 against VfL Wolfsburg.
Arnold strikes first
Maximilian Arnold continued his good form with another excellent long-range goal to give the visitors the lead, but second-half substitute Daniel Ginczek fired Nürnberg back into the match after 72 minutes.
Nürnberg, the only side still without a win this season, burst out of the blocks with a confidence belying their 18th position. Their best early chance came through a Marvin Plattenhardt free-kick twenty yards out, but the 21-year-old left-back could do no more than bend his effort tamely into Diego Benaglio’s welcoming arms.
After that, Dieter Hecking’s Wolfsburg side, contrastingly fresh from four successive wins, began to impose themselves on the contest. The tireless Ivica Olic rounded everyone in the box after 27 minutes but his shot rolled excruciatingly across an empty goal. Arnold then provided the breakthrough six minutes before half-time with his fourth goal in five games, an elegant left-footed strike from distance that eluded Raphael Schäfer in the Nürnberg goal.
Super sub Ginczek
After a scare at the end of the first-half when Makoto Hasebe struck the post, Wolfsburg resumed control of proceedings at the beginning of the second period. Luiz Gustavo bent wide from distance after tenacious work in midfield, while Diego almost matched Arnold’s impressive effort. After 63 minutes, however, Nürnberg recovered their early drive. Josip Drmic capitalised on a Gustavo error to charge from halfway into the box unchallenged, only for Benaglio to push his shot wide of the near post.
The Wolves’ defensive timidity was punished ten minutes later as substitute Ginczek cut into the box from the left, once again Wolfsburg offering no resistance, and fired a low shot past Benaglio for a deserved equaliser and his second goal of the season. Although he and Arnold could have sent the points either way with late chances, Nürnberg’s fightback merited a point - even if they still haven’t managed to pick up three.
Line-ups and statistics
