Super Mario Gomez fires Wolfsburg past Darmstadt
Mario Gomez continued his incredible scoring run under Andries Jonker as Wolfsburg boosted their survival hopes with a comfortable win over bottom club Darmstadt.
Wolfsburg 1-0 Darmstadt
Goals: 1-0 Gomez (45')
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Taking in the pair's time together at Bayern Munich in 2011, Gomez went into the game having scored seven goals in 11 Bundesliga matches on Jonker's watch - including two in his last two - and needed just 45 minutes to add to his tally at the Volkswagen Arena. Riechedly Bazoer and Luiz Gustavo had already gone close for the Wolves, when Gomez rose highest to head home Jannes Horn's inch-perfect cross on the stroke of half-time.
Darmstadt had barely had a kick, but there was to be little respite in a decidedly one-sided second half. Bazoer fired wide with the first in a succession of Wolfsburg chances, as Gomez blazed over, Paul-George Ntep had a goal ruled out and Yunus Malli was denied his first Wolfsburg goal by a fine Daniel Heuer Fernandes save. Although the second goal did not materialize, the Wolves were fully deserved winners.
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Man of the match
Who else but Gomez? The 31-year-old led the line superbly well for the Wolves, running the Darmstadt back line into the ground and making the decisive contribution in front of goal.
Talking point
With seven points from a possible nine since taking up the reins from Valerien Ismael on an interim basis, Jonker is clearly a man with the Midas touch. What is more, the Dutch strategist is yet to taste defeat in eight Bundesliga matches (five for Bayern, three for Wolfsburg).
Match stats
- Gomez has opened the scoring with his last five Bundesliga goals.Horn, Josuha Guilavogui and Vieirinha made their first starts of the Jonker era.Darmstadt defender Patrick Banggaard - a winter signing from Danish side Midtjylland - made his Bundesliga debut.
Line-ups
Wolfsburg: Casteels - Blaszczykowski, Knoche, Gustavo (c), Horn - Bazoer (Träsch 80’), Guilavogui - Vieirinha, Arnold (Ntep 46’, Mayoral 86’), Malli - Gomez
Coach: Andries Jonker
Darmstadt: Heuer Fernandes - Steinhöfer, Banggaard, Sulu (c), Holland - Altintop, Gondorf - Sirigu (Platte 57’), Sam, Heller - Schipplock (Colak 69’)
Coach: Torsten Frings
Watch: Gomez reflects on Wolfsburg's win over Darmstadt: