Women

Bussy’s opener not enough

She-Wolves fall 4-1 to FC Bayern.

The VfL Wolfsburg women suffered a 4-1 (1-0) away defeat at FC Bayern München on Sunday in the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga. Despite a focused first-half display and the opening goal from Kessya Bussy (16th minute), the hosts turned the game around after the break with a quickfire double from Jovana Damnjanovic (54’, 56’). Georgia Stanway (70’) and Klara Bühl (80’) added further goals for Bayern. The Green-and-Whites remain second in the table. The VfL women now head into the international break before hosting Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal quarter-final on Wednesday, 11 March. Kick-off is at 18:30 CET at the AOK Stadion.

Personnel

VfL head coach Stephan Lerch made one change to his starting line-up compared to the UEFA Women’s Champions League victory in Turin: Bussy replaced Ella Peddemors.

Match summary

An intense, high-tempo contest developed from the outset at the FC Bayern Campus. The Munich side looked to push forward early on, but Wolfsburg’s defence stood firm and initially kept the hosts away from their penalty area. With their first clear opportunity, the She-Wolves took the lead: after a cross from Caitlin Dijkstra, Vivien Endemann squared the ball and Kessya Bussy reacted quickest to put it home (16’). Bayern pressed for an equaliser in the aftermath, but Stina Johannes produced a strong save against Jovana Damnjanovic (13’), while Momoko Tanikawa fired narrowly wide (38’). With a disciplined performance, the Green-and-Whites carried their 1-0 lead into half-time.

The game turned within a matter of minutes after the restart. Damnjanovic first blocked a ball from Johannes and levelled the score (54’), before converting a low cross from Franziska Kett shortly afterwards to put Bayern in front (56’). The hosts remained on the front foot, with Pernille Harder striking the post (62’) and Johannes making another save (65’). In the 70th minute, Georgia Stanway made it 3-1 after being set up by Tanikawa. The She-Wolves searched for a response but struggled to find attacking solutions. Klara Bühl sealed the result, reacting quickest to a loose ball and slotting home to make it 4-1 (80’).

Goals

  • 0-1 Bussy (16’): Caitlin Dijkstra crosses from the left into the penalty area, Vivien Endemann squares the ball. Bussy initially misses it but reacts instantly, turns and forces the rebound over the line.
     
  • 1-1 Damnjanovic (54’): Damnjanovic blocks a ball from Stina Johannes, which drops into the penalty area. The FCB striker then has the simple task of tapping home.
     
  • 2-1 Damnjanovic (56’): Bühl releases Franziska Kett down the right, whose low cross travels across the box. Damnjanovic slides in to convert and give Bayern the lead.
     
  • 3-1 Stanway (70’): Tanikawa drives forward in front of the penalty area and lays the ball off to the left for Georgia Stanway, who finishes from a central position.
     
  • 4-1 Bühl (80’): After a save by Johannes, Bühl reacts quickest, shoots from a central position and the ball slips through into the net.

Reaction

Stephan Lerch: The win for FC Bayern was deserved in the end. I am still satisfied with my team, especially with the first half. We played courageously, pressed early, and did not sit back. This was exactly what we had planned. After the break, Bayern increased the pressure significantly. We were forced into mistakes and conceded goals too quickly. With the larger spaces and our waning energy, it became very difficult to defend properly. The team still gave everything on the pitch. We take the positives with us and will continue on our path.

Line-ups and Statistics

VfL Wolfsburg: Johannes – Bjelde (86’ Wedemeyer), Dijkstra, Küver (75’ Bergsvand), Linder (75’ Levels) – Minge - Kielland – Beerensteyn, Huth, Bussy (63’ Zicai), Endemann (63’ Peddemors),

Substitutes: Tufekovic (goalkeeper), Kerim-Lindland, Papp, Pujols

FC Bayern München: Mahmutovic – Viggosdottir, Eriksson, Gwinn, Kett (85’ Naschenweng) – Dallmann (66’ Amani), Stanway (85’ Caruso), Tanikawa, Bühl, Harder (73’ Imade), Damnjanovic (73’ Dunst)

Substitutes: Grohs (goalkeeper), Gilles, Pedersen, Simon

Goals: 0-1 Bussy (16’), 1-1 Damnjanovic (54’), 2-1 Damnjanovic (56’), 3-1 Stanway (70’), 4-1 Bühl (80’)

Yellow cards: Stanway, Dunst / Bussy, Endemann, Küver, Zicai

Referee: Riem Hussein (Bad Harzburg)