Bilal El Khannouss inspires VfB Stuttgart to big win over Cologne
VfB Stuttgart took a commanding 4-1 win over Cologne in Friday's Matchday 2 opener, with Bilal El Khannouss in fine form with a sparkling solo effort, while Ermedin Demirović and Josha Vagnoman also struck splendid individual goals.
VfB Stuttgart 4-1 Cologne
Goals: 1-0 El Khannouss 39' (assist: Vagnoman), 2-0 Prömel 60' (assist: Mittelstädt), 3-0 Demirović 75', 3-1 Hendriks og 81', 4-1 Vagnoman 90'+1
Sebastian Hoeneß made two changes to the Stuttgart side that lost heavily at Bayern Munich on Matchday 1, with Ramon Hendriks dropping to the bench and Tiago Tomás out injured, while Chris Führich and Bilal El Khannouss came into the starting XI. Cologne made one change from their opening-day win over Hoffenheim, with Linton Maina replacing the ill Saïd El Mala.
Stuttgar denied by the woodwork twice
Stuttgart began on the front foot. Dženan Pejčinović fired over inside four minutes after a clever Deniz Undav lay-off, and shortly afterwards Vagnoman crashed a close-range effort onto the crossbar following a slick move started by El Khannouss.
Pejčinović then also struck the bar with a header from Maximilian Mittelstädt's cross. Cologne offered little going forward, and Grischa Prömel's deflected shot forced a smart save from Marvin Schwäbe.
El Khannouss finally breaks the deadlock
After a string of missed chances, El Khannouss took matters into his own hands in the 39th minute, dribbling past several Cologne defenders, nutmegging Luka Lochoshvili and slotting a deflected shot past Schwäbe to make it 1-0 for a well-deserved lead at the break for the hosts.
Cologne roar back before Prömel doubles the lead
Cologne emerged with real intent after the break, forcing several good saves from Fabian Bredlow through Ellyes Skhiri, Mikey Moore and Ragnar Ache, and hitting the target repeatedly without finding an equaliser.
Against the run of play, Stuttgart doubled their lead in the 60th minute as El Khannouss and Mittelstädt combined to set up Prömel, who finished with his left foot for his first goal for the club.
Demirović and Vagnoman complete the rout
Demirović made an instant impact after coming on as a substitute, driving into the box from the right and finishing from a tight angle to make it 3-0 in the 75th minute.
Cologne got a goal back through an own goal by Hendriks, turning in a Marius Bülter cross in the 81st minute, but Vagnoman settled matters with a stunning first-time volley from over 20 yards in stoppage time to make it 4-1.
Player of the Match: Bilal El Khannouss
El Khannouss scored a brilliant solo goal to open the scoring and later helped to tee up Prömel for Stuttgart's second, driving much of the hosts' attacking play throughout.
He also topped the challenges-won chart for Stuttgart with nine, underlining his influence in a dominant home performance that earned him the Player of the Match award.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: VfB Stuttgart 3.01 - Cologne 1.84
Fastest player: Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart), 34.27 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 4-1 by Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart), 4 percent
Pass efficiency: Fabian Bredlow (Stuttgart), +2.3
Fantasy Heroes: Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart, 341 Points), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart, 297 Points), Grischa Prömel (Stuttgart, 234 Points)
