Women

Last-gasp win

The She-Wolves came away from Oslo with a 2-1 victory over Valerenga.

VfL Wolfsburg Women scored a last-minute winner on Wednesday evening to secure a 2-1 victory over Valerenga, making it two from two for the team in this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League. Janina Minge struck the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the ninth minute of stoppage time, after Lineth Beerensteyn’s (58’) opener had been cancelled out by Valerenga’s Sara Hörte (61’).

The win may have come in the dying seconds of the game but it was thoroughly deserved after a dominant performance from Stephan Lerch’s side in which they created more chances. The result means the Green-and-Whites now have six points from their two games in the competition so far this term. 

VfL’s next game is on Sunday 19 October away to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga (kick-off 17:15 CEST). Their next Champions League outing is also away from home, at Olympique Lyonnes on Matchday 3 in four weeks’ time. 

Goals

  • 0-1 Beerensteyn (58’): This had been coming and the She-Wolves take a deserved lead. Beerensteyn intercepts Saedis Run Heidarsdottir’s back pass and dribbles into the penalty area. She shoots from approximately eight metres out and buries the ball in at the near post.
     
  • 1-1 Hörte (61’): Stina Johannes tries to clear a high ball into her box but can only divert it into the path of Hörte, who is left with a simple tap-in from close range. 
     
  • 2-1 (90’+9): Penalty for VfL! Stoppage time is over but VAR intervenes and indicates a handball in the penalty area by Naina Maria Inauen. Minge steps up and scores the winner!

Reaction

Stephan Lerch: “It was an intensive and emotional game. Obviously I’m delighted that we won and now have six points from our first two games. The team deserves huge credit for that. It wasn’t an easy match and we had to compensate for a few absentees, but the team did so really well.”

Line-ups and stats

Valerenga Oslo: Enblom – Hörte (75‘ A. Eiriksdottir), Kovacs, Pettersen – Tennebö, Vickius (60‘ Brekken), Inauen, Heidarsdottir – Sesay (60‘ Hegg), Saevik (75‘ Thorsnes), Tvedten (88‘ Skinnes Hansen)

Subs: Erichsen (GK), Grinde-Hansen (GK), Aronsson, Bergman Lundin, Lindwall

VfL Wolfsburg: Johannes – Linder (64‘ Bergsvand), Dijkstra, Wedemeyer, Levels (83‘Pujols) – Minge, Kielland (90‘+2 Vallotto) – Bjelde (64‘ Bussy), Popp, Zicai – Beerensteyn

Subs: Smolarczyk (GK), Tufekovic (GK)

Goals: 0-1 Beerensteyn (57‘), 1-1 Hörte (60‘), 1-2 Minge (90‘+8,pen)

Yellow cards: Hörte / Levels

Referee: Marta Huerta de Aza (Spain)

Attendance: 3.592 at Intility Arena (Oslo)