Women

Big win in Istanbul

Rebecka Blomqvist hit a hat-trick as the She-Wolves left Galatasaray no chance.

VfL Wolfsburg Women picked up their first win in this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage thanks to a 5-0 success at Galatasaray. The Matchday 3 encounter in Istanbul quickly became a one-sided affair but it remained on edge for a long time before Rebecka Blomqvist’s second-half hat-trick put the game to bed, with Vivien Endemann scoring the final goal of the night in stoppage time. 

The Green-and-Whites return to Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga action on Saturday at home to Turbine Potsdam (kick-off 14:00 CET), before another vital meeting with Galatasaray the following Wednesday (kick-off 18:45 CET).

Goals

  • 0-1 Wedemeyer (24’): Yes! VfL get their reward for an impressing start to the game. Joelle Wedemeyer escapes her marker to connect with a corner from Svenja Huth, arriving at the back post to head into an empty net.  
     
  • 0-2 Blomqvist (63’): The She-Wolves get a deserved second goal that settles any lingering nerves. Janina Minge tries her luck from distance and her powerful drive crashes off the crossbar. Blomqvist is the only player to react and prods the rebound home. 
     
  • 0-3 Blomqvist (77’): Blomqvist gets her second to kill the game off. Endemann ventures deep into the Galatasaray half down the right and although her cross is initially half cleared, it falls at the feet of Blomqvist, who curls a brilliant finish into the top-left corner. 
     
  • 0-4 Blomqvist (90’+6): The hat-trick is complete! Endemann squares the ball to Blomqvist, lurking on the edge of the box, and she buries a first-time effort over the goalkeeper and into the net.  
     
  • 0-5 Endemann (90’+7): Now it‘s Endemann turn to get on the scoresheet! Blomqvist’s through-ball was meant to be for Ari Arias but it goes to Endemann instead. She lashes the ball high into the net at the near post to crown an impressive all-round display.

Reaction

Joelle Wedemeyer: “I’m over the moon to have scored my first Champions League goal. We could have won by an even higher margin but we can be satisfied with a 5-0 away win at Galatasaray. We really deserved it.” 

Line-ups and stats

Galatasaray Istanbul: Yaman – Cümert, Demehin, Wardlow, Öztürk (85‘ Eren) – Esen, Topcu (85‘ Karatas) – Malado (78‘ Parlak), Usme, Karabulut (66‘ Bakarandze) – Staskova

Subs: Inan (GK), Kurga (GK), Yeniceri, Akkurt, Yalciner, Altintas

VfL Wolfsburg: Frohms – Wedemeyer, Hendrich, Minge – Huth (85‘ Arias), Kielland (75‘ Kalma), Hagel (55‘ Papp), Linder (75‘ Rabano) – Endemann, Blomqvist, Jonsdottir (56‘ Brand)

Subs: Schmitz (GK), Borbe (GK), Wilms, Beerensteyn

Goals: 0-1 Wedemeyer (24‘), 0-2 Blomqvist (63‘), 0-3 Blomqvist (77‘), 0-4 Blomqvist (90+6), 0-5 Endemann (90‘+7)

Yellow cards: Usme, Cümert, Staskova 

Referee: Olatz Rivera Olmedo (Spain)

Attendance: 2,081 at Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadyumu (Istanbul)