Bundesliga runner-up Wolfsburg started its new German league campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and Japan striker Yuya Osako sealed a 3-1 victory for Cologne at Stuttgart on Sunday.
Osako struck in the second minute of injury time, set up by Anthony Modeste on a counterattack as Stuttgart pushed for an equalizer.
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Modeste opened the scoring late with a penalty in the 75th after he was brought down by Stuttgart ‘keeper Przemyslaw Tyton. Cologne substitute Simon Zoller made it 2-0 two minutes later, two minutes before he gave away a penalty for a foul on Filip Kostic.
Daniel Didavi duly pulled one back from the spot to set up an exciting finale only for Osako to kill any hopes of a draw.
Didavi hit the crossbar early on and Stuttgart had the better chances until Tyton gave away the first penalty.
In the early game, Wolfsburg midfielder Ivan Perisic opened the scoring with a header from Max Kruse’s cross in the 13th and Bas Dost made it 2-0 from close range four minutes later.
Two minutes later, former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Stefan Reinartz scored what proved to be Frankfurt’s consolation on his league debut for the side.
“Wolfsburg have a lot of quality but we didn’t give much away,” Frankfurt coach Armin Veh said after his first Bundesliga match back in charge. Veh previously coached the side for three seasons between 2011 and 2014.
Tempers frayed briefly at the end of the half after Kevin de Bruyne was taken down by Frankfurt defender Carlos Zambrano. De Bruyne, reportedly a transfer target for a host of clubs, reacted angrily and pushed the Peruvian in response. Both players were booked.
Wolfsburg ‘keeper Koen Casteels did well to deny 19-year-old Frankfurt substitute Joel Gerezgiher a late equalizer.
“We analyzed the opponent and tried to find room in which to hurt them,” Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking said. “That’s why Kevin de Bruyne was on the wing in the first half. It was an average performance from him. We should allow him that. He tried a lot.”
