Soccer News of Monday, 9 March 2015

Source: goal.com

Brilliant Baba as Wolfsburg Stunned

Abdul Rahman Baba was influential as Augsburg dealt a major blow to Wolfsburg’s title hopes with a 1-0 home victory in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

While Bayern Munich are running away with the German title this season, Wolfsburg, as their main rivals, are also enjoying a strong campaign.

However, they have fallen 11 points behind the reigning champions after being undone by Augsburg on Saturday afternoon.

After a goalless first half, Augsburg took the lead through midfielder Dominik Kohr, whose goal—the only one of the contest—ultimately ended Wolfsburg’s four-match winning streak. The 1-0 defeat was the Wolves’ first loss of 2015.

Baba was influential in the goal. He was brought down in the Wolfsburg box by centre-back Naldo, and while Tobias Werner’s spotkick was saved, Kohr was on hand to poke home the rebound.

As a unit, Augsburg worked hard and defended well, however Baba ought to be singled out for both his offensive and his defensive contribution.

He won four aerial battles, managed a 100 percent shot accuracy rate and completed four dribbles. Defensively, he made four clearances, one interception and two tackles according to WhoScored.

Baba has established himself as a key member of Avram Grant’s national side over the last few months and was one of the Black Stars’ key performers at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 20-year-old featured in all six of Ghana’s matches in Equatorial Guinea, contributing one assist in the process. For Augsburg, so far this season, he has made 21 appearances in the Bundesliga, contributing four assists.

Despite being one of the less-fancied teams in the division, Baba and his teammates are enjoying a terrific season and currently sit in fifth place in the Bundesliga table ahead of major sides such as Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund.