The footballers of VfL Wolfsburg carelessly missed a good starting position for reaching the Champions League final. In the semi-final first leg against WFC Arsenal, it was only enough for a 2:2 (2:1) despite a 2:0 lead. The second game will take place in London on May 1st.
“At first it feels like a defeat,” said Wolfsburg goalkeeper Merle Frohms. “But we can learn a lot from this game and we did a lot right. We are capable of beating Arsenal. It’s up to us.”
In front of the Wolfsburg women’s football record crowd of 22,617 spectators in the Volkswagen Arena, Ewa Pajor gave the German champions the lead in the 19th minute. Just five minutes later, Sveindis Jonsdottir used a serious mistake by Arsenal defender Rafaelle to make it 2-0 (24th).
But it was also the Brazilian who brought the top English club back up just before the break (45′). In the 69th minute, Stina Blackstenius of Sweden scored to make it 2-2. The equalizer came just two minutes after Tabea Waßmuth missed the great chance to make it 3-1 (67th).
Think long
“Being 2-0 up and then conceding two more goals at home: Of course that feels disappointing,” said Jonsdottir from Iceland. “But we still have a second game in London, so we’ll take that chance and win there!”
After a nervous start, VfL actually had the Londoners under control for a long time. The big shortcoming of the women from Wolfsburg was that they only created a few chances despite their intensive pressing. Their offensive game was too imprecise for that.
Arsenal were without four injured top players – including England captain Leah Williamson and European Championship top scorer Beth Mead. Nevertheless, the FC Bayern conquerors from the quarter-finals repeatedly countered dangerously.
In the second semi-final first leg, FC Barcelona had already prevailed 1-0 at FC Chelsea on Saturday. If the final on June 3rd in Eindhoven is Wolfsburg versus Barça, VfL would still have a score to settle with the Spaniards. Because against them you were eliminated in 2022 in the semifinals. So far, Wolfsburg have reached the Champions final five times. The club also won the cup in 2013 and 2014.
