VfB are in the Europa League for next year, but with a win can possibly go straight into the group stage, rather than a playoff round. I hope others are here to post in-game comments, too, because I will be in and out this morning, mostly out.
Stuttgart playing well so far, putting a good bit of pressure on Wolfsburg. Kinda worried when I saw the lineup, but Boka has played well so far...
From ESPN: Stuttgart starting 11: Ulreich - Boka, Delpierre, Rodriguez, Sakai - Kuz, Gentner, Cacau, Hajnal, Harnik - Ibisevic Subs: Boulahrouz, Molinaro, Ziegler, Bah, Traore, Schieber, Rüdiger. 14th minute, 0-0
It is obviously going to be very difficult to get the win today. Lots of injuries and by consequence some unlikely starters today. Tasci and Niedermeier both injured, so the defence is Maza and...... Delpierre! Pays his first competitive game all season, and at the same time his last one in a VfB shirt. I am happy that he gets a final goodbye, this is the last time a German Champion and Captain will playing for us. Boka gets to start at leftback, and Kvist is out through injury, meaning he misses his first game all season. Gentner and Kuzmanovic make up the central midfield instead. Down 1-0 now and Leverkusen leading by two goals in Freiburg...not looking good for fifth place at the moment. I still hope that, regardless of how Leverkusen plays, we are able to turn our game around.
Substitution, Stuttgart. Ibrahima Traoré replaces Zdravko Kuzmanovic in the 56th minute. Sheiss! 0 - 2 in the 61st minute, by Marco Russ. Defense is not looking good. Leverkusen is still leading, but their lead has been reduced, 2 - 1.
From ESPN: Goal! Stuttgart 1, Wolfsburg 2 Cacau header from very close range to the bottom left corner in the 73rd minute. Assisted by Matthieu Delpierre with a headed pass following a set piece situation. Come on Ibisevic, it's your turn now!
From ESPN: Goal! Stuttgart 2, Wolfsburg 2. Maza right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner following a corner in the 77th minute. Noch ein mal! And again! Stuttgart 3, Wolfsburg 2. Ibrahima Traoré left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Gotoku Sakai with a cross, in the 79th minute! Wow, what a comeback! Noch ein mal!
Full time! Great result, although they could not overtake Leverkusen. Were any of you at the match? Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion must have been rocking!
What an awesome way to finish a good season Shame we couldn't take Leverkusen, but it's okay. Next year, we are in Europe. Next year, we are back where we belong. Congratulations to the whole side on an excellent Rueckrunde
One of the guys in my section (we were under the Kronen Club logo during this one) said: "Thank goodness for American movies, or else we'd never have music to play for these things"!!! Cacau presents an interesting problem after his Ruckrunde.....this guy should probably be starting...but I don't know if VfB will do it....I hope they can figure something out. He's the perfect "joker", but probably deserves more....
Brilliant choreo Final player ratings for the season: Sven Ulreich: Kicker Rating: 2.5 (34 played, 2.79 avg.) Gotoku Sakai: 2.5 (14 played, 3.43 avg.) Maza: 3 (26 played, 24 as starter, 3.69 avg.) Matthieu Delpierre: 4 (1 played, 4.00 avg.) Arthur Boka: 2.5 (13 played, 10 as starter, 4.08 avg.) Christian Gentner: 3 (28 played, 15 as starter, 3.22 avg.) Zdravko Kuzmanovic: 4 (26 played, 22 as starter, 3.43 avg.) Martin Harnik: 4 (34 played, 33 as starter, 3.45 avg.) Tamas Hajnal: 3 (33 played, 30 as starter, 3.53 avg.) Cacau: 2 (33 played, 20 as starter, 3.79 avg.) Vedad Ibisevic: 4 (25 played (10 with Hoffenheim), 22 as starter, 3.23 avg.) SUBS: Ibrahima Traore: 3 (12 played, 1 as starter, 3.50 avg.) Julian Schieber: No Rating (18 played, 10 as starter, 3.95 avg.) Cristian Molinaro: NR (23 played, 19 as starter, 3.73 avg.) Unused Subs: Marc Ziegler Khalid Boulahrouz Antonio Ruediger Mamdou Bah Bit disappointed that the last substitution was used on Molinaro rather than, say, Boulahrouz - who would have deserved to play in his last match after 4 years at the club.