Luiz Gustavo's (r.) goal was not enough for Wolfsburg to take all three points as Eintracht Braunschweig hit back for a point
Luiz Gustavo's (r.) goal was not enough for Wolfsburg to take all three points as Eintracht Braunschweig hit back for a point

Honours even in Lower Saxony derby

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Braunschweig - Eintracht Braunschweig and VfL Wolfsburg shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw in the Lower Saxony derby.

Braunschweig transformed

Luiz Gustavo gave the Wolves the lead before half-time only for Karim Bellarabi to earn struggling Braunschweig a point early in the second half with a fine strike.

Gustavo, back in the side after suspension, was in the right place at the right time to turn the ball in from six yards after Braunschweig failed to clear their lines from a corner. It was the Brazilian midfielder's third goal in his last five games and went some way to erasing memories of the shock 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.

The hosts were a shadow of the side that has battled so valiantly in recent weeks, but that was all to change once the second half got underway. With the words of coach Torsten Lieberknecht clearly ringing in their ears, the Lions were transformed. Domi Kumbela's determined run down the right ended with the forward crossing for Bellarabi to score from close range and bring them back on terms.

The hosts sensed an opportunity to beat their local rivals for the second time this season and had their final ball been more accurate, they might have done so. Instead, Wolfsburg held on for a point which nevertheless sees them slip to sixth.

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