Köln holds Wolfsburg to draw with defensive brilliance

Make no mistake about it, Christoph Daum will have his Köln side prepared to play to the best of their ability. While the overall pedigree might not be there yet, tactically the club will go from week to week with a tactical masterpiece and consistently exceed the expectations of many. This afternoon was perfect example as while many clatter of whether they will survive relegation and with Wolfsburg focused upon a European bid, they locked down the flourishing attack of Felix Magath's side and came within a whisper of winning the match in route to a 1-1 draw.

Without really a scoring opportunity to note for Wolfsburg before the break, the home side took the lead eleven minutes before the break when former Rapid Bucureşti man Sergiu Radu, on-loan from die Wölfe was the recipient of a long ball from Kevin Pezzoni and carefully chipping it over an on-rushing Diego Benaglio. At the break Peter Pekarík who just came over from MŠK Žilina was introduced and the youngster did not disappoint with pace and intent. Just before the hour Bosnian Edin Džeko was robbed by Köln's veteran 'keeper Faryd Mondragón but fifteen minutes later Grafite's drive from twenty-two minutes found the back of the net to draw the match level. Yoshito Okubo, who had entered for Christian Gentner with twenty-four minutes remaining was a consistent threat and rang the post with ten minutes remaining but it was to no avail and the match concluded with a draw.

Wolfsburg returns to Bundesliga action next Saturday against VfL Bochum, sitting eighth in the table.