Brajan Gruda scored a stunning 89th-minute equaliser and set up the other Leipzig goal as RB Leipzig twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw against VfL Wolfsburg at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday in Bundesliga Matchday 22. Mohamed Amoura and substitute Mattias Svanberg had given the visitors a 2-1 lead, but Gruda curled a magnificent strike into the top corner from 15 metres to deny Wolfsburg a priceless away victory. The result dealt a blow to Leipzig's Champions League ambitions while offering Wolfsburg a valuable point in their fight to avoid relegation, all played out before 35,787 spectators.
The first half belonged almost entirely to Leipzig, who dominated possession at around 65 percent and created a host of chances without finding the breakthrough. Wolfsburg goalkeeper Kamil Grabara produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side level, most spectacularly tipping Conrad Harder's acrobatic bicycle kick over the bar in the 19th minute and getting his fingertips to a close-range Gruda effort in the 41st minute. Leipzig suffered a setback in the 29th minute when goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi went down injured and had to be replaced by Maarten Vandevoordt, adding a note of concern to an already frustrating half for the hosts who had peppered the Wolfsburg goal with ten shots yet had nothing to show for it.
The pattern shifted dramatically after the break as Wolfsburg struck against the run of play in the 52nd minute. Adam Daghim beat two Leipzig defenders on the right flank before cutting back a precise pass for Amoura, whose first-time strike looped over Vandevoordt and nestled in the net. Leipzig responded with increased urgency, and their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when Grabara's misplaced clearance fell straight to Gruda, who drove forward and unselfishly squared for Yan Diomande to slot home from the right side of the penalty area and level the score at 1-1.
Wolfsburg restored their advantage in the 78th minute through Svanberg, who had entered the match as a substitute in the 60th minute. The Swedish midfielder received the ball inside the box and fired a composed left-footed strike into the far corner, leaving Vandevoordt with no chance. With Leipzig staring at defeat, it fell to Gruda to produce a moment of magic in the 89th minute. After Maximilian Arnold's attempted clearance fell loose inside the area, Gruda pounced on the ball and curled a superb effort from 15 metres into the top corner, a strike described by Kicker as a dream goal that sent the Red Bull Arena into raptures.
The draw left Leipzig fifth in the Bundesliga on 40 points, two behind fourth-placed Stuttgart in the final Champions League qualification spot, with Bayer Leverkusen lurking just one point behind with a game in hand. For Wolfsburg, the point edged them further from the relegation playoff spot as they sit 15th with 20 points under Daniel Bauer, who has steadied the ship since replacing the sacked Paul Simonis earlier in the season. Leipzig manager Ole Werner will be concerned not only by the dropped points but also by the injury to Gulacsi ahead of a crucial home clash against Borussia Dortmund next Saturday.
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