VfL Wolfsburg defeats Karlsruher SC 5:2 in 22-goal 2. Bundesliga afternoon

Seven goals at the Wildpark

In the 2. Bundesliga on 29 August 2026, VfL Wolfsburg secured a 5:2 victory away against Karlsruher SC before 28,143 spectators at the Wildpark. Karlsruher SC opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Shio Fukuda headed in from a corner. Alexander Bernhardsson leveled for Wolfsburg three minutes later following a cross from Fabian Reese. Karlsruher SC captain Marvin Wanitzek restored the home side's lead in the 12th minute, curling a shot into the top corner after an assist from Louey Ben Farhat. Reese equalized from 25 meters in the 28th minute, before Vinícius Souza struck from long range in first-half stoppage time (45+2) to give Wolfsburg a 3:2 lead. Late goals from Hauke Wahl in the 88th minute and Reese in the 95th minute confirmed the win for coach Tobias Strobl's side, lifting Wolfsburg to seven points from three league matches.

Fabian Reese faces hostile reception

Wolfsburg winger Fabian Reese endured persistent whistling from the Karlsruhe crowd throughout the match. Karlsruher SC supporters maintain a fan friendship with Reese's former club, Hertha BSC, dating back to 1976. Reese moved from Berlin to Wolfsburg during the summer transfer window for a reported fee of 8 million euros, despite having extended his Hertha contract through 2030 the previous year. The 28-year-old, who previously played for Karlsruhe in 2017, contributed two goals and an assist during the encounter. After the match, Reese spoke about the impact of the hostile crowd reaction.

I take these whistles with me, I also take them home with me. I cannot shake them off so well, maybe I am too sensitive for that. I think everyone should imagine being whistled at in their mid-twenties in front of 30,000 or 40,000 spectators. That hurts me.

Heidenheim turns match against Dresden

The match in Karlsruhe was one of three 13:00 fixtures that produced a combined total of 22 goals across the division. Playing at home, 1. FC Heidenheim ended a two-match losing streak with a 5:3 win over Dynamo Dresden. Vincent Vermeij put Dresden ahead with a header in the 30th minute past Heidenheim goalkeeper Thomas Dähne, who started ahead of Frank Feller. Jan Schöppner equalized in the 67th minute, two minutes before Dresden defender Thomas Keller received a second yellow card. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Dresden temporarily retook the lead before an own goal by Friedrich Müller in the 77th minute leveled the scores. Late goals from Oualid Mhamdi in the 87th minute, Julian Niehues in the 89th minute, and Maximilian Breunig in the 91st minute sealed the result for coach Frank Schmidt.

Fürth edges Cottbus in high-scoring clash

In the third afternoon fixture, SpVgg Greuther Fürth earned their first league victory of the season with a 4:3 win away against Energie Cottbus in front of 13,171 fans. Lucas Copado opened the scoring for Cottbus in the sixth minute. Fürth responded with a penalty from Felix Klaus in first-half stoppage time (45+3) and an own goal by Fousseny Doumbia in the 46th minute. Substitute Tolcay Cigerci made it 2:2 for the hosts in the 70th minute, but Ole Pohlmann restored Fürth's advantage in the 71st minute. Klaus scored his fifth league goal of the campaign in the 80th minute to make it 4:2, before a stoppage-time goal (90+4) from Union Berlin loanee Dmytro Bogdanov closed the scoring.