Julian Draxler scored a brace and Max Kruse added a massive third away goal as Wolfsburg picked up a 3-2 win at Gent in Wednesday’s first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Sven Kums and Kalifa Coulibaly scored late to keep it interesting, with the second goal assisted by potential future U.S. men’s national teamer Kenny Saief.
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It took nearly 45 minutes for the match to see its first shot on target, but what a shot it was.
Draxler made an electric turn down the left flank before working a 1-2 with Vieirinha to score the match’s opener.
[ MORE: Full lineups, stats, box score ] (for UCL)HT: Gent 0, Wolfsburg 1. Julian Draxler bags his second #UCL goal of the season with a cool finish. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/KvAeD7f6Bw
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 17, 2016
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Draxler added another in the 54th minute to give the highly-favored German side a pair of away goals. Christian Träsch found Kruse for a left-footed finish to make the tie feel all-but-academic in the 60th minute.
Brecht Dejaegere set up Kums for a late goal, and -- hold on! --Saief found Coulibaly for a second to keep the Belgian side alive.
