VfL Wolfsburg Women have clinched their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage. The two-time winners, who entered the 2nd qualifying round as Bundesliga runners-up, beat French side FC Girondins de Bordeaux 3-0 on penalties after the game ended 3-2 to the hosts after extra time. The She-Wolves won the first leg by the same scoreline and are now through to the competition proper, which has a new format this season.
Ewa Pajor scored both VfL’s goals at the Stade Jean-Antoine Moueix in Libourne. VfL’s focus now turns to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, where the group-stage draw takes place on Monday 13 September (13:00 CEST, live on UEFA.com). Before that, though, the Wolves are back in Bundesliga action at 13:00 CEST on Sunday 12 September, when they welcome SC Sand to the AOK Stadion.
Reaction
Tommy Stroot: “On the one hand we controlled the game for long stretches, but on the other we missed numerous chances. We could have rewarded ourselves earlier, then it would have been a different game. We’ve been through a lot here – we’ve taken a lot of mental steps that will definitely help us at various points during the rest of the season. I’m happy, but I don’t need a game like that every weekend. Today was about getting up again and again and taking that extra step. I’m very proud of the team.”
How the shootout unfolded
Schult saves Perisset’s effort; 0-1 Oberdorf; Bilbault is thwarted by Schult; 0-2 Pajor; Folkertsma strikes the post; 0-3 Doorsoun
Line-ups and stats
FC Girondins de Bordeaux: Moorhouse (46‘ Chavas) – Lardez (62’ Cardia), Gilles, Berkely, Perisset – Bilbault, Folkertsma – Palis (33’ Garbino), Jaurena, Lavogez (46’ Gomes/112’ Dufour) – Snoeijs (74’ Gudmundsdottir)
Subs: Chavas, Perea, Culver, Haelewyn
VfL Wolfsburg: Schult – Doorsoun, Hendrich, Janssen, Wedemeyer – Oberdorf, Lattwein – Huth, Roord (74‘ van de Sanden), Wolter (80‘ Blomqvist) – Pajor
Subs: Kassen, Weiß, Blässe, Starke, Svava, Knaak
Goals: 0-1 Pajor (25’), 1-1 Snoeijs (36’), 2-1 Gomes (66’), 2-2 Pajor (102’), 3-2 Cardia (119’), 3-3 Oberdorf (penalty shoot-out), 3-4 Pajor (penalty shoot-out), 3-5 Doorsoun (penalty shoot-out)
