After a standout debut season, Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst has not lost his prolific touch in 2019-20. In Düsseldorf, the Dutchman again underlined his importance to the Wolves' realizing their ambitions.
Image: Imago Images/A. Hilse
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Few players have taken to life in the Bundesliga quite like Wout Weghorst. Brought in boasting a half-decent scoring record — 45 goals in 86 appearances for AZ Alkmaar — the 27-year-old is now starting to carve out a reputation as one of the most prolific Dutchmen to ever grace Germany's top flight.
Weghorst netted 17 times in a debut season in which player and club blew all expectations out of the water, clinching a top-six finish less than 12 months after needing to survive a relegation playoff with Holstein Kiel to retain their top-tier status.
In the current campaign, while Robert Lewandowski, Timo Werner and Paco Alcacer's goal-scoring exploits have grabbed the headlines, Weghorst has quietly amassed three in four games — including Friday's all-important equalizer against Düsseldorf.
Raising the curtain on Matchday 4, Wolfsburg passed up the chance to go temporarily top of the table, drawing 1-1 with Fortuna, though had every right to feel aggrieved given that there were questions about the legitimacy of the hosts' opener.
Bundesliga Matchday 4 in pictures
The Bundesliga returned with a bang after the international break. Goals galore, late winners, VAR decisions and red cards - and that was just on the Saturday! Catch up with all the latest matchday action.
Image: Imago Images/C. v.d. Laage
Paderborn 1-5 Schalke
Another spirited display from Paderborn ended without reward as Schalke turned things around in the second half. Cauly Oliveira Souza had given the hosts the lead, but after Salif Sane equalized, Schalke were calmer. Shortly after the break, Suat Serdar's deflected shot put the visitors ahead. Armine Harit (twice) and Ahmed Kutucu added three more brilliant team goals as Paderborn fell apart.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/T. F. Starke
Hoffenheim 0-3 Freiburg
Life after Julian Nagelsmann continues to prove difficult for Hoffenheim, who were comfortably dispatched by a dangerous looking Freiburg team. Christian Streich's side took the lead thanks to a rare but impressive goal from Christian Günter. After Ishak Belfodil had an effort saved, Janik Haberer slotted a second to leave the home side reeling. On the hour mark, Nils Petersen added a third.
Image: Imago Images/eu-images
Cologne 0-1 Gladbach
In one of the fiercest derbies in the Bundesliga, Gladbach got the better of their hosts. Alassane Plea tucked home the opener after a defensive error and Gladbach should have led by at least two at the break, but wasted their chances. In the second half that continued, with Cologne short of ideas. Yann Sommer saved late to secure the win.
Image: imago-images/M. Müller
RB Leipzig 1-1 Bayern Munich
Bayern started stronger, Robert Lewandowski finishing coolly after just three minutes to give the visitors the lead. Despite Bayern's dominance Leipzig fought back through an Emil Forsberg penalty just before halftime. Both teams had chances to take all three points in the second half, but it ended in a draw thanks to great goalkeeping from both Neuer and Gulacsi.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Woitas
Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Leverkusen
Despite Lukas Hradecky's best efforts, Leverkusen couldn't stop BVB. The Finn made a brilliant double save to deny Marco Reus and Julian Brandt, but was eventually beaten when Achraf Hakimi's perfect cross was volleyed in by Paco Alcacer. Hradecky made another great save to deny Hakimi but was beaten three more times by Reus (twice) and Guerreiro as Dortmund eventually hammered Leverkusen 4-0.
Image: imago-images/DeFodi/A. Gottschalk
Augsburg 2-1 Frankfurt
Goncalo Paciencia hit the post early, but then the visitors were undone when Alfred Finnbogason flicked a header into the area for Marco Richter to score. Florian Niederlechner curled in a beauty just before the break to make matters worse for Frankfurt. Paciencia got one back with 20 minutes to go but Frankfurt's late charge didn't end in an equalizer.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Balk
Union Berlin 1-2 Werder Bremen
The visitors won a game of three penalties. with Davy Klaassen netting a controversial first early on. Not long after, Sebastian Andersson converted from the spot when Christian Gross saw a corner land on his arm. In the second half, Klaassen missed a penalty but Niclas Füllkrug headed home from the resulting corner. The game finished with seven minutes of added time and two red cards.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Sache
Mainz 2-1 Hertha Berlin
Mainz got their first win of the season thanks to a late winner. Davie Selke hit the post for Hertha after an even opening passage, but Mainz took the lead. Pierre Kunde did brilliantly down the right and his low cross was tucked in at the back post by Robin Quaison. Marko Grujic headed home an equalizer with seven minutes to go, but with two minutes left, Jeremiah St. Juste powered home a header.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Frey
Fortuna Düsseldorf 1-1 Wolfsburg
Josip Brekalo and Wout Weghorst combined well to rescue a point on the road for Wolfsburg, after underdogs Fortuna Düsseldorf took an early home lead. The hosts put up an impressive fight, also looking extremely dangerous with direct counterattacking football when the opportunity presented itself. Wolfsburg missed a chance to (briefly) move top of the table thanks to the dropped points.
Image: Imago Images/C. v.d. Laage
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In the build-up to Niko Gießelmann's stunning strike — his first ever goal in the Bundesliga — replays suggested that the ball my have crossed the line with Matthias Zimmermann in possession.
"Quite simply and clearly, the ball was out," said an exasperated Weghorst when talking to DAZN after the game. "I know it's not easy making decisions like that, but I could see it from a good two meters away. [Josip] Brekalo knew it and he was right next to it. I don't need to see another replay. I know it was out."
Raising his teammates' game
Fortunately for Wolfsburg, their star striker was on hand to repair the damage. Weghorst has now had a hand in 20 goals since the start of 2019 – a figure only matched by reigning Bundesliga top scorer Lewandowski, but the fate of the team took the gloss off any personal positives.
"It's a positive thing," Weghorst told DAZN. "It's super and I'm happy about it, but it's hard to take any joy from stuff like that tonight."
An unorthodox player who never came through a youth academy, Weghorst's ability to consistently get among the goals is impressive, but his ability to raise the performances of those around him makes him irreplaceable for the Wolves.
The latest beneficiary on Friday night was Josip Brekalo, who struggled to assert himself under previous head coaches, but is enjoying a new lease of life under Oliver Glasner, appointed in the summer. The dynamic winger's assist drew high praise from a striker with exacting standards.
"What Josip did [for my goal] was super," continued Weghorst. "We've been building up a real rapport recently. We're training a lot together, we're talking a lot together. He wins his challenge well, produces a super nutmeg and he put the ball on a plate. It's my job to put it in the back of the net."
Here, you see Weghorst literally lifting up the goal's creator Josip Brekalo, encouraging teammates to congratulate the architect rather than the builderImage: Imago Images/Camera 4/T. Wiedensohler
It was a job he did with unerring efficiency last season as his goals helped Wolfsburg secure a return to the continental stage in the UEFA Europa League. Despite Glasner's new style requiring time to take full effect, the aims are no less lofty this season.
"For me, we've let two points slip, just like we did two weeks ago — and now it's happened again," bemoaned Weghorst. "I think with the team we've got and the targets we've set ourselves, we can't be happy with just one point."
A winning mentality that has been sorely lacking at times in Wolfsburg, further proof that Weghorst's goals aren't the only reason he's crucial to the Wolves realizing their ambitions in 2019-20.
