VfL Wolfsburg Women slipped to a 1-0 defeat at AS Roma in their first UEFA Women’s Champions League group game, with Manuela Giugliano scoring the decider from the penalty spot (14’) following a handball. The She-Wolves dominated the second period and hit the woodwork twice but were ultimately unable to salvage anything from the game.
Match summary
Head coach Tommy Stroot’s charges were on top for the opening quarter of an hour, even if it was Roma who had the clearest sight of goal after just two minutes via Emilie Haavi. The Italian side took the lead in the 14th minute when Giugliano converted from the penalty spot following an unfortunate handball by Lynn Wilms.
The Green-and-Whites got forward with even greater purpose in the second half, were far more dangerous in the final third and hit the crossbar twice through Marina Hegering (52’) and Vivien Endemann (69’). Yet despite their dominance, VfL were unable to find what would have been a deserved equaliser, leaving them to nurse a frustrating defeat.
Goal
1-0 Giugliano (14’): Roma score against the run of play, with the She-Wolves dominating. Haavi crosses from the left and the ball strikes Wilms’ outstretched arm, giving the home side a penalty. Giugliano’s powerful effort fizzes into the bottom corner, and although Merle Frohms gets a hand to it, she can’t keep the ball out.
Reaction
Tommy Stroot: “It’s a frustrating defeat. We created a lot more chances than they did and played well overall. It’s upsetting that we lost the game on the back of the penalty decision.”
Line-ups and stats
AS Rom: Caesar – Thögersen, Linari, Minami, di Guglielmo – Dragoni (78‘ Pilgrim), Kumagai, Greggi, Haavi (90‘+2 Pandini) – Giugliano (78‘ Troelsgaard), Viens (85‘ Giacinti)
Subs: Kresche (GK), Mazzocchi (GK), Aigbogun, Cissoko, Hanshaw, Corelli, Glionna
VfL Wolfsburg: Frohms – Wilms (76‘ Rabano), Minge, Hegering, Linder (85‘ Wedemeyer)– Popp, Lattwein, Huth – Beerensteyn (65‘ Endemann), Blomqvist (46‘ Hendrich), Jonsdottir (46‘ Brand)
Subs: Borbe (GK), Schmitz (GK), Hagel, Kielland, Kalma
Goals: 1-0 Giugliano (14‘, pen)
Yellow cards: - / Wilms
Referee: Catarina Ferreira Campos (Portugal)
Attendance: 1,345 at Stadio Tre Fontane (Rome)
