With brace, Draxler leads Wolfsburg to 3-2 win over Ghent
Posted February 17, 2016 6:00 am
BRUSSELS (AP) - Julian Draxler scored two classy goals to lead Wolfsburg to a 3-2 away win over Champions League newcomer AA Ghent in the Round of 16 on Wednesday.
At 22, Draxler confirmed himself as the new creative force of a team which had been struggling, scoring just before and just after halftime in the first leg match.
On the hour mark, Max Kruse finished off another smooth move with a goal that made it seem like the second leg would be little more than a formality.
But Ghent's Sven Kums scored in the 80th minute and Kalifa Coulibaly made the game even closer nine minutes later.
Wolfsburg defended high from the start and harried Ghent's midfield throughout, belying Ghent's robust home reputation.
Wolfsburg's Julian Draxler, right, shoots on goal as Gent's Lasse Nielsen tries to block the shot during the Champions League round of 16, 1st leg soccer match between Gent and Wolfsburg at Ghelamco Arena in Ghent, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Associated Press
Wolfsburg players start to celebrate as Wolfsburg's Julian Draxler, center, scores his sideâs first goal passing Gent's goalkeeper Matz Sels, left, during the Champions League round of 16, 1st leg soccer match between Gent and Wolfsburg at Ghelamco Arena in Ghent, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Associated Press
Wolfsburg's Julian Draxler, right, and Gent's Thomas Foket, left, vie for the ball during the Champions League round of 16, 1st leg soccer match between Gent and Wolfsburg at Ghelamco Arena in Ghent, Belgium, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
The Associated Press