Women

In the balance

She-Wolves play out 1-1 draw with Arsenal Women in UWCL quarter-final first leg.

VfL Wolfsburg Women have shown that they belong at the highest level, with head coach Tommy Stroot’s side earning a 1-1 draw away at Arsenal Women in their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night.

The She-Wolves held the lead for much of what was a highly entertaining contest, played out in front of 5,000 fans at the Emirates Stadium in London, courtesy of a Tabea Waßmuth strike in the 19th minute. Just before full time, however, the Gunners equalised through Charlotte Wubben-Moy (89’).

The second leg will be played on Thursday 31 March (kick-off: 18.45 CEST) at the Volkswagen Arena, with a semi-final spot on the line.

What the coach said

Tommy Stroot: “It’s never a good feeling when you let a goal in, but Arsenal had had some good chances, and we could have conceded prior to when we did. Overall, the result is a good reflection of the way the game played out. It was a hard-fought tie, and that was what we expected when we came here. At this level playing a side like this, it was clear that it would be a tight contest and one that wouldn’t be decided on the night. It’s half-time in the two legs with a week’s break in between, and we’ll pick up where we left off next Wednesday.”

Line-ups and stats

Arsenal Women FC: Zinsberger – Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Catley – Maritz, Little, Wälti, Miedema, McCabe (76‘ Heath) – Blackstenius (83’ Maanum), Mead (83’ Parris)

Subs: Williams (GK), Beattie, Boye, Wienroither, Nobbs

VfL Wolfsburg: Schult – Wedemeyer, Hendrich, Janssen, Rauch – Oberdorf (90‘ Blomqvist), Lattwein – Huth, Roord (78‘ Bremer), Popp – Waßmuth (78‘ Jonsdottir)

Subs: Kassen (GK), Weiß (GK), Wilms, Knaak, Smits, Starke, van de Sanden

Goals: 0-1 Waßmuth (19‘), 1-1 Wubben-Moy (89‘)

Yellow cards: Mead, Catley / Rauch, Popp, Wedemeyer

Referee: Jana Adamkova (Czech Republic)

Attendance: 5,018 at Emirates Stadium