In a thrilling second division match featuring three spectacular goals and plenty of pace, VfL Wolfsburg celebrated their second away victory.

Against Karlsruhe SC, the side managed by coach Tobias Strobl won 5:2 (3:2). Alexander Bernhardsson (10th minute), Fabian Reese (28th/90+5), Vinícius Souza (45+2) and Hauke Wahl (88th) scored for the Lower Saxony club. Shio Fukuda (7th) and Marvin Wanitzek (12th) netted for KSC in front of 28,143 football fans at the Wildpark.

The first half in particular offered plenty of spectacle, initially provided by KSC. The side coached by Maximilian Senft presented themselves as dominant, eager to play and assured in possession. The early lead through Fukuda, who headed in from a corner kick, was deserved. Wanitzek followed with a spectacular goal into the top corner to make it 2:1.

The KSC captain had been assisted by Louey Ben Farhat, who is being courted by Eintracht Frankfurt and made his starting debut this season, immediately demonstrating why the Bundesliga club wants to bring him to Hesse.

KSC fans whistle at Reese

Much of Wolfsburg's play went down the left flank through Reese. The KSC fans, who maintain a supporter friendship with Reese's former club Hertha Berlin, whistled at him with nearly every touch of the ball. The 28-year-old, who was also active at KSC in 2017, appeared outwardly unmoved. His cross led to the 1:1 through Bernhardsson; he scored the 2:2 himself with great power from around 25 meters. A similar spectacular goal made it 2:3 through Souza, with KSC goalkeeper Hans Christian Bernat appearing not entirely blameless on two occasions.

After the restart, Bernat kept his side in the match with strong saves against Bernhardsson and Kento Shiogai. Offensively, Karlsruhe found few gaps against a significantly more stable Wolfsburg defense. Wanitzek missed KSC's only noteworthy chance in the second half, though Wolfsburg goalkeeper Jakub Zielinski was there to make the save. Wahl and Reese sealed the victory in the closing stages.