Wolfsburg advances to the next round of the UEFA Cup, claiming first place of Group E with a draw against AC Milan. With the top spot of their group they will draw a preferential position and face a club finishing third-place in the knockout round while second place clubs will face the eight clubs falling in from the Champions League. The Serie A giant took the lead seventeen minutes in as they exposed a major Wolfsburg weakness as Massimo Ambrosini nodded in Clarence Seedorf’s corner with power. Wolfsburg did not wilt under the pressure and came close to leveling four minutes before the half-hour as of Bosnia and Herzegovina international Edin Džeko struck the cross-bar with a close range header. However on cue for his return to Milan ex-Palermo man Cristian Zaccardo re-directed Marcel Schäfer’s cross to the back of the net eleven minutes after the re-start. Within the minute the Rossoneri asserted their domain of San Siro as Filippo Inzaghi provided Pato a perfect set-up in the center of the area to which the young-gun didn’t disappoint. Behind 2-1 things appeared dire for Die Wölfe in the final half-hour but surprisingly with first place in-sight, Carlo Ancelotti turned aside a tactical defensive substitute to lock-down the match. With nine minutes remaining AC Milan lost it’s claim for first place as Wolfsburg as Polish international Jacek Krzynówek’s drive was re-directed in by Mahir Sağlık.The result is an extraordinarily fortunate result for Wolfsburg and will provide them a leg-up on the competition in the round of thirty-two. I cannot help but mention my surprise on the tactical decisions made by AC Milan in the final twenty minutes and protecting the lead better.
Wolfsburg are now off on their winter break and return when they face FC Köln on January 31 of the new year.
