Energie Cottbus gets a sensational 4:4 draw against Wolfsburg

The Cottbus fans who traveled with them celebrated their comeback heroes long after the final whistle, and coach Pele Wollitz could hardly believe the crazy comeback. Despite a seemingly hopeless 3-0 deficit after 34 minutes and a 3-1 draw at the break, Energie Cottbus fought back to a 4-4 draw against heavy favorites VfL Wolfsburg.

“What we did here in the second half was passion, that was everything that makes football,” said Wollitz after the game. After three competitive defeats in a row, Energie stopped the downward trend on the fourth matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga.

At first it looked like a heavy defeat against the Bundesliga relegated Wolfsburg. Striker Robert Glatzel (4th/penalty kick and 34th minute), who became a father for the third time on Friday, and Vinícius Souza (25th) gave VfL a clear lead. Shortly before the break, Luca Erlein (45th + 4) provided some hope.

Wollitz: “Usually it breaks you down”

“Today at half-time I was just angry and said: With this naivety we have no right to play here in this second league. I thought we played well with the ball again, but conceding goals like that and making these mistakes - they usually break you down," said Wollitz.

After the break, King Manu (49th) and Tolcay Cigerci equalized with a penalty (67th) to make it 3-3. In the final phase, substitute Mattias Svanberg (79th) gave the home team the lead again, but Energie didn't give up in a wild game. Dmytro Bogdanov (90+1) scored the equalizer in the majority. Shortly before, Wolfsburg's defender Mathys Angély saw a yellow-red card in the 88th minute.

«Huge compliment. If you're 3-0 down after 35 minutes, it feels like a win to me at that moment. And we can be very proud of ourselves. “That will give us a lot of strength for the next few weeks because I think Wolfsburg is the clear favorite and the better team,” said energy defensive player Axel Borgmann on the pay-TV channel Sky.

VfL first thought about it, then became careless

Wolfsburg took the lead early on. Energy keeper Marcel Lotka came too late on a cross in the 3rd minute and rigorously cleared Glatzel. Referee Lukas Benen consequently decided on a penalty, which the fouled man converted himself.

The Wolves then pressed for more goals against the Lausitz team, who seemed overwhelmed at times, and already looked like the sure winners before the Lausitz team started their crazy comeback after the break and caused great celebration among the fans who had traveled with them.