Winning start for new duo

Wolfsburg's new double-act of Lorenz-Gunther Kostner and Klaus Allofs enjoyed a winning start to life together.

Wolfsburg's new double-act of Lorenz-Gunther Kostner and Klaus Allofs enjoyed a winning start to life together on the Wolves' bench with a 3-1 win at Hoffenheim. Makoto Hasebe, Bas Dost and Naldo all scored for a buoyant Wolfsburg at the Rhein-Neckar Arena with Eren Derdiyok netting a late consolation for Markus Babbel's side. The win lifts Wolfsburg out of the bottom three and above their opponents. New director of sport Allofs took his place next to caretaker-coach Kostner on the Wolfsburg bench for the first time since arriving from Werder Bremen during the week, and he saw his new club race into the lead in the seventh minute. Ivica Olic sent in a cross from the left and Hasebe headed in from close range after Tim Wiese failed to cut the ball out. Diego, who has rediscovered some of his best form since Kostner replaced Felix Magath, nearly doubled his side's lead in the 23rd minute when he only had Wiese to beat, but the Hoffenheim goalkeeper made up for his blunder on the first goal to deny the Brazilian bravely. Wiese could do nothing but pick the ball out of his own net a minute later, though, when Dost's shot went in off the inside of the left-hand post to give Wolfsburg a two-goal lead. Hoffenheim almost reduced the arrears just before the break, but Sejad Salihovic's header was saved well by Diego Benaglio. Matthieu Delpierre came to Wiese's rescue in the 62nd minute when he cleared the ball off the goal line after Dost lobbed the Hoffenheim goalkeeper. Three minutes later, Joselu wasted a chance to bring Hoffenheim back into the game, shooting over from close range, and Wolfsburg's answer was a third goal from Naldo, who curled his free-kick around the wall from nearly 30 yards out, beating Wiese's dive. Derdiyok pulled a goal back for the home side in the 88th minute when he headed in a cross from half-time substitute Vincenzo Grifo, but it was too little too late for Hoffenheim.