Leverkusen complete second-half comeback in nine-goal thriller with Wolfsburg

Despite trailing by one goal at the break, Bayer Leverkusen put in a dominant second-half performance to defeat VfL Wolfsburg 6-3 this afternoon.

Photo: Pau Barrena/Getty Images.

Goals rained in a 6-3 comeback victory for Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena despite Wolfsburg taking an early lead. Konstantinos Koulierakis' clearance fell into the box for Jonas Wind to control and net his first goal since last May. A second goal was close when Mohamed Amoura rattled the side-netting.

Nonetheless, Leverkusen started to build in momentum as Alejandro Grimaldo tested Kamil Grabara from range before the hosts earned a penalty. Joakhim Mæhle barged into Ibrahim Maza in the box, allowing Grimaldo to convert from the spot for momentary parity.

Amazingly, the Dane made an immediate reprieve for his error. From the restart, Grabara found Wind who broke the ball for his compatriot to rifle home spectacularly. Still, the first-half drama continued as Tapsoba clipped Amoura's heels in the box minutes later.

Christian Eriksen calmly rolled the penalty in, giving the Lower Saxons a two-goal lead. However the scoring didn't end as Grimaldo drifted inside and struck again just before the break as Equi Fernandez turned provider from the right half-space. 

It took seven second-half minutes for the hosts to equalise – a third penalty of the game too, as Saël Kumbedi tangled legs with Tella. Having been subbed on at the break, Patrik Schick took over responsibilities and sent Grabara the wrong way. 

Thereafter, Leverkusen took full control of the game's flow and dominated possession. The comeback was compete when chaos reigned in the Wolfsburg box after a Grimaldo cross. Pinball broke out as Badé tipped it to Tapsoba who prodded in with the aid of the post. 

Although Grabara would deny Grimaldo with a delightful parry, the resulting corner saw the Rhineland club go 5-3 to the good. Exequiel Palacios picking out the head of Maza to provide the two-goal cushion. It could have been more had the post not denied Culbreath.

Further salt was rubbed into the Wolves' open wounds deep into injury time. Substitutes Ernest Poku and Malik Tillman combined, as the Dutch speedster cut in from the left and fed the midfielder who fired to the roof of the net. Dieter Hecking's players looked shell shocked as the final whistle sounded.