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Brunst Comes Up Big For Wolfsburg

By USLSoccer.com Staff, 01/12/17, 9:15PM EST

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Goalkeeper notches back-to-back saves to earn shootout victory against Bahia


Photo courtesy 2017 Florida Cup

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – VfL Wolfsburg took victory 3-2 in a penalty shootout against Clube Esporte Bahia after the two teams had played to a 0-0 draw in the 2017 Florida Cup at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The victory saw Wolfsburg take its second win of the event, and earn Germany the FC Challenge title with a combined 10 points alongside Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Bahia took a 2-1 lead through three rounds in the shootout, but Wolfsburg pulled level as Nicolas Abdat converted into the right corner of the net to open the fourth round before Renato Caja had his shot to the left side saved by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Alexander Brunst. Robert Herrmann, who had scored both goals in Wolfsburg’s victory against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Sunday, then converted to open the fifth round, making it 3-2, and Brunst’s denial of Feijao’s shot clinched victory for the German youngsters.

Bahia had the better pressure in the early going, and went close to taking the league in the 14th minute when Edigar Junio beat his defender, only for his cross to elude his onrushing teammates. Four minutes later the Brazilians went close again, but Brunst was quickly off his line to collect a pass by Tinga to deny a chance for Ze Rafael.

Wolfsburg was unable to find much success in the final third in the opening half, and was put under pressure again by Bahia down the flanks as both Armero and Regis had low, cutback crosses from either side scrambled away to safety by the Wolfsburg defense. 

The young German side came close just before the halftime whistle as a floated free kick by Herrmann drifted too far in front of his teammates in the penalty area, but the chance seemed to spark the side into the life early in the second half. Wolfsburg threatened twice more from set pieces as good defending from Bahia kept the game scoreless.

As the game wore on, chances became fewer as both defenses held the upper hand until Wolfsburg almost took the lead with 14 minutes to go. Herrmann took a short corner from the left and sent a curling shot that beat the goalkeeper to his far post, but that caromed back off the post, allowing Matheus Reis to clear the rebound.

Bahia had a late chance when Eder found some space on the right side with five minutes to go, but he scuffed his shot wide of the near post. Moments later, Caja fizzed a low free kick from the right side just wide of the left post, but the game remained scoreless through regulation, necessitating a shootout.

UPCOMING GAMES

January 15 – Clube Esporte Bahia vs. Estudiantes de la Plata, Bright House Networks Field, Orlando, Fla.

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