bundesliga

Anthony Modeste fires Cologne to comeback win in Wolfsburg

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Anthony Modeste scored twice as Cologne came from behind to beat Wolfsburg, who are now winless in six competitive matches under Florian Kohfeldt.

Wolfsburg 2-3 Cologne
Goals: 1-0 Nmecha 8' (assist: Baku), 1-1 Modeste 34', 2-1 Weghorst 51' (assist: Lukebakio), 2-2 Uth 73' (assist: Schindler), 2-3 Modeste 89' (assist: Schindler)

There was no shortage of entertainment at the Volkswagen Arena. Wolfsburg made the brighter start, with the Nmecha brothers at the heart of their best work. Felix - making his full Bundesliga debut - tested Marwin Schwäbe, before Lukas showed his younger sibling how it's done with the opener. The Germany striker crowned an incisive counter involving Ridle Baku and Dodi Lukebakio to bring up his sixth Bundesliga goal. Modeste offered Cologne's first response - a tame header at Koen Casteels - but made his next one count. Jonas Hector's cross caused all manner of problems in the Wolfsburg rearguard, with Cologne's top scorer heading home after Florian Kainz had struck the crossbar.

After speculative efforts at both ends in a wild first-half finale, the action showed no signs of abating into the second period. Schwäbe pulled off a sensational reflex save to keep out Lukas Nmecha's deflected close-range shot, but was powerless to prevent Wolfsburg restaking the lead. Lukebakio collected Jerome Roussillon's pass and jinked his way into the box, before teeing up Wout Weghorst for a routine finish from inside the six-yard box. Cologne hung in there, though, and levelled with 17 minutes remaining when Kingsley Schindler picked out fellow substitute Mark Uth to steer the ball in with his chest. After Baku had a goal ruled out for offside and Maxence Lacroix headed over, Modeste headed the Billy Goats ahead. Weghorst passed up a late equaliser to compound the Wolves' misery.

Match stats

  • Wolfsburg have not won in the Bundesliga since Matchday 11.
  • Weghorst has three goals and an assist in five meetings with Cologne.
  • Nmecha, like Weghorst, has a team-leading six Bundesliga goals for Wolfsburg this season.
  • Modeste has scored eight times in 12 meetings with Wolfsburg. He ended a run of four matches without scoring.
  • Uth scored his third goal of the Bundesliga season.
  • Only Bayern Munich (316) have fired off more shots on goal than Cologne's 239 this season.

Watch: Modeste: “My strength is my heading”

Line-ups

Wolfsburg: Casteels (c) – Baku, Lacroix, Bornauw, Roussillon – Vranckx, Arnold - Lukebakio, L. Nmecha (Gerhardt 65'), F. Nmecha (Steffen 59') - Weghorst
Unused subs:
Pervan, Van den Ven, Mbabu, Brooks, Guilavogui, Bialek, Ginczek
Out:
Mehmedi (muscular), Schlager (knee), Otavio (knee), Philipp (muscular), Waldschmidt (ill), William (knee)
Coach: 
Florian Kohfeldt

Cologne: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Czichos, Hector (c) – Özcan (Horn 46') – Schaub (Uth 72'), (Killian 90'+5), Duda (Schindler 72'), Kainz (Thielmann 71') – Modeste, Andersson
Unused subs: Urbig, Ehizibue, Mere, Lemperle
Out: Hauptmann (ill), T. Horn (knee), Köbbing (knee), Ostrak (muscular), Skhiri (ill)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Watch: Weghorst: “We conceded too easily”