Wolfsburg 3-3 Koln Player Ratings: Maximilian Arnold Rated 9/10 as Six-Goal Thriller Ends in Stoppage-Time Mayhem

In Gameweek 3 of the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg faced Koln in an exciting match between two strong German teams. Both sides came into the game unbeaten, but Wolfsburg had drawn one of their last two matches, while Koln came into the match undefeated.

Koln started the game strongly, keeping Wolfsburg quiet and not letting them create chances. In the first 20 minutes, Wolfsburg had created hardly any chances that couldve disturbed the hosts. Their early pressure paid off just five minutes in when Luca Waldschmidt scored with a sharp right footed shot from close range. After the goal, Koln seemed to relax, focusing on defending their lead. But this gave Wolfsburg a chance to fight back. The hosts started to dominate as Koln got too comfortable with the 1-0 scoreline, and their laziness allowed Wolfsburg to push forward. In the 42nd minute, Wolfsburg’s consistency paid off as a header that caught Koln’s defense off guard, leveled the score at 1-1, which was held till the half time whistle.

Then Lovro Majer put them ahead after the break. It seemed like Wolfsburg had control. The game was theirs to lose. Then came the stoppage time. All fourteen minutes of it. It was pure, unadulterated chaos. Köln found a leveller. Then, Maximilian Arnold scored a world-class free-kick in the 99th minute. Surely that was the winner. But no. Jakub Kaminski popped up in the 104th minute. He scored to make it 3-3. Both teams will leave wondering what could have been. A truly unforgettable contest, which gave both teams a single point, which hardly impacted their position on the Bundesliga table.

Here are the complete Wolfsburg Vs Koln Player Ratings

Wolfsburg Player Ratings vs Koln

Here are the VfL Wolfsburg Player Ratings vs Koln

Goalkeeper

Kamil Grabara - 6.0: A really tough day for the keeper. He conceded three goals. But he also made four saves. A couple of those were crucial stops. We noticed he looked a bit shaky on crosses. He got a late yellow card too. Overall a mixed performance under pressure.

Defenders

Kilian Fischer - 6.0: He was tidy on the ball. His pass accuracy was impressive. But defensively, he was part of a unit that fell apart. He committed a few needless fouls. He tried to get forward with some crosses. It just wasn't his day at the back.

Konstantinos Koulierakis - 6.5: He seemed to be everywhere at times. The stats show seven clearances. He was certainly busy. He also made two big blocks. However, he lost a couple of key duels. It was an all-action, if slightly frantic, display from him. He showed good fight.

Moritz Jenz - 5.5: From our perspective, he really struggled. He was dribbled past too easily. He also gave away three fouls. The opposition attackers seemed to target him. He just looked a step off the pace. A difficult afternoon for the centre-back.

Joakim Mæhle - 7.5: A bright spark in a leaky defence. He provided a crucial assist. He also created a big chance. What stood out was his willingness to get forward. He had three shots on goal himself. He worked tirelessly up and down the flank.

Midfielders

Vinicius de Souza Costa - 7.0: A true warrior in the middle. He won an impressive eight duels. He was breaking up play constantly. His tackling was immense. While not the most creative, his defensive work was vital. A solid, battling performance from the midfielder.

Maximilian Arnold - 9.0: Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. What a performance from the captain. He scored that stunning free-kick winner... or so we thought. He also grabbed an assist. Five key passes shows his creative influence. He completely ran the show for VfL Wolfsburg.

Lovro Majer - 8.0: He was a constant thorn in Köln's side. He took his goal really well. He also drew four fouls from the opposition. His clever movement was a nightmare to track. It was a surprise to see him substituted. A very influential game from him.

Patrick Wimmer - 7.5: This guy has an incredible engine. We noticed he won ten duels. He was a machine in midfield. His dribbling was a huge asset. He constantly drove the team forward. He had to go off with an injury late on.

Andreas Skov Olsen - 6.5: He got into some good positions. He had three shots on goal. But his final product was just missing. He worked hard but couldn't quite make the decisive impact. A decent but ultimately frustrating game for him.

Forwards

Mohamed Amoura - 7.5: He was electric before his injury. He scored a poacher's goal to get his team back in it. He always looked like their biggest threat. His pace caused a lot of problems. It was a real shame his game was cut short.

Substitutes

Substitutes: Dzenan Pejcinovic, Jenson Seelt, Adam Daghim, and Jesper Lindstrøm all came on. They tried to help see the game out. But they came on during a chaotic period. None had enough time to make a major impact.

Manager

P. Simonis - 6.5: His team showed great fight to go 2-1 up. The attacking play was often excellent. But the defensive collapse in stoppage time was alarming. He will be furious they threw away the win twice. A mixed bag for the manager.

Koln Player Ratings vs Wolfsburg

Here are Koln Player Ratings vs Wolfsburg

Goalkeeper

Marvin Schwäbe - 6.0: He conceded three goals which is never good. However, he also made three saves. One save late on was particularly important. He couldn't do much about Arnold's free-kick. It was a difficult day for the captain.

Defenders

Sebastian Sebulonsen - 5.5: He had a really tough time. He was hooked after 64 minutes. He lost the ball far too often. His passing was not up to scratch. Wolfsburg's attackers got a lot of joy down his side. A performance he'll want to forget.

Joël Schmied - 6.0: A battling, if clumsy, performance. He made four clearances and two tackles. But he also picked up a yellow card. He committed a couple of rash fouls. He did his best but looked stretched.

Timo Hübers - 6.0: An average display at the heart of defence. He was strong in the air. He won most of his aerial battles. However, he looked vulnerable on the ground. He was part of a backline that conceded three. He could have been more commanding.

Rav van den Berg - 5.0: A nightmare game for the defender. He made an error that led to a shot. He struggled to cope with the pressure. His game ended early due to injury. From our perspective, he was the worst performer on the pitch.

Kristoffer Lund - 6.0: He had his moments going forward. He had a couple of shots from distance. Defensively, he was a bit suspect. He worked hard but the quality was lacking at times. A very mixed performance overall.

Midfielders

Eric Martel - 5.5: He was fighting a losing battle in midfield. The stats show he lost eight duels. He also committed four fouls. He just couldn't get a foothold in the game. Wolfsburg's midfield completely overran him.

Jakub Kaminski - 7.5: For 103 minutes, it was a solid but quiet game. Then he popped up with the most dramatic goal. His last-gasp equalizer saved his team. That moment alone earns him a high rating. He showed great composure under immense pressure.

Jan Thielmann - 7.0: He was excellent in his 64 minutes. He was a bundle of energy. He had four shots and forced good saves. He won a remarkable eight duels. We were surprised to see him taken off.

Forwards

Luca Waldschmidt - 7.5: He started the game on fire. He scored a great goal early on. He created two chances for his teammates. He looked incredibly sharp and dangerous. Being subbed at halftime was a strange decision.

Marius Bülter - 6.5: He worked his socks off all game. He was a willing runner for the team. He had a couple of shots on target. But he never quite found that killer touch. A tireless effort with little reward.

Substitutes

Substitutes: The manager's changes were inspired. Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson came on and scored. Said El Mala came on and provided an assist. They completely changed the game. Alessio Castro-Montes, Florian Kainz and Ragnar Ache also added fresh energy. The subs won them a point.

Manager

L. Kwasniok - 7.5: His team looked down and out at 2-1. But his substitutions were masterful. They completely turned the tide of the match. His team showed incredible spirit and belief. He deserves huge credit for snatching a draw.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Maximilian Arnold