VfL Wolfsburg Women picked up three important points on Matchday 20 of the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season thanks to a stoppage-time 2-1 victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
The result keeps the She-Wolves one point ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt and in second place in the standings, which brings with it an automatic UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifying berth.
The 2,775 spectators at the AOK Stadion were treated to a number of chances at either end in a goalless first half, before the visitors took the lead through Vanessa Diehm midway through the second period (65’).
Crucial last-gasp win
Alexandra Popp equalised for the Green-and-Whites a short while later (74’), setting up an exciting, evenly balanced finale in which both teams had chances to score. Ultimately, though, it was VfL who snatched the points when Jule Brand found the net in the third minute of stoppage time.
Goals
- 0-1 Diehm (65’): Hoffenheim’s Julia Hickelsberger lays the ball off to Diehm. She takes touch to set herself before firing in from just outside the penalty box.
- 1-1 Popp (74’): Justine Kielland, on as a substitute, delivers a free-kick high into the Hoffenheim area, finding Popp at the back post to level at 1-1.
- 2-1 Brand (90’+3): Yesssss! Brand, another second-half substitute, receives a long ball from Kielland and lifts it over goalkeeper Laura Dick and into the net, rewarding the She-Wolves for their unwavering efforts.
Reaction
Sabrina Eckhoff: "I'm pleased that we didn't lose our shape after we fell behind and managed to turn a 1-0 deficit into a very important 2-1 win. We stood strong for a number of periods tonight against a very tough opponent and above all, we were mentally very solid."
Line-up and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Borbe – Wedemeyer, Dijkstra, Minge, Linder – Huth (71‘ Hendrich), Lattwein (62‘ Kielland), Peddemors – Endemann (71‘ Brand), Popp (86‘ Sellner), Beerensteyn
Subs: Schmitz (GK), Wilms, Nemeth, Blomqvist, Jonsdottir
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Dick – Janssens, Cazalla, Doorn, Kaut – Grabowska (76‘ Feldkamp), Harsch (81‘ Dongus), Diehm, Memeti (76‘ Hahn) – Cerci (81‘ Alber), Kössler (58‘ Hickelsberger)
Subs: Lindner (GK), Rankin, Steiner
Goals: 0-1 Diehm (65‘), 1-1 Popp (74‘), 2-1 Brand (90‘+3)
Yellow cards: - / Harsch, Janssens, Cazalla
Referee: Angelika Söder (Schwarzenbruck)
Attendance: 2,775 at AOK Stadion (Wolfsburg)