VfL Wolfsburg Women have booked their place in the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals after drawing 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Thursday evening.
After winning the first leg 1-0 in Paris, the draw was enough for the reigning German champions to seal their place in the last four. Alexandra Popp put the Green-and-Whites ahead in the 20th minute with her side's first shot in an intensive encounter, only for PSG forward Kadidiatou Diani to head in the equaliser a short while later (29').
It was an end-to-end spectacle in the second half at the Volkswagen Arena, where neither side gave the other an inch. Tommy Stroot's charges were unable to convert a number of chances, but they defended every PSG attack with heart and courage and ultimately managed protect their narrow advantage until the final whistle.
Semi-final against Arsenal
VfL will meet Arsenal WFC in the last four, the English side having eliminated Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Goals
- 1-0 Popp (20'): The opener comes out of the blue, but is all the better for it. The She-Wolves break forward on the counter down the left with Felicitas Rauch, who squares the ball to Popp on the edge of the penalty area. She hits an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner!
- 1-1 Diani (29'): So frustrating! Dominique Janssen is marking Diani tightly but loses an aerial battle, leaving Merle Frohms no chance form close range.
Reaction
Alex Popp: "We're over the moon and proud because it was a tough battle against PSG. We fought our way into the game and we could have won it given the number of good chances we had in the second half. We want to take the last step in the semi-finals against Arsenal and reach the UEFA Women's Champions League final."
Line-ups and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Frohms – Wilms, Hendrich, Janssen, Rauch – Oberdorf, Lattwein, Huth, Roord (73‘ Pajor), Jonsdottir (90‘+3 Brand) – Popp
Subs: Kiedrzynek (GK), Weiß (GK), Hegering, Wedemeyer, Demann, Wolter, Blomqvist, Bremer, Waßmuth
Paris Saint-Germain: Bouhaddi – Lawrence, Geyoro, Jean-Francois, Karchaoui – Hamraoui, Fazer, Bachmann (73’ Traore) – Baltimore (63’ Albert), Diani (46’ Vangsgaard), Martens (55’ Li)
Subs: Picaud (GK), Votikova (GK), Thorvaldsdottir, Georgieva, Elimbi, Ngueleu
Goals: 1-0 Popp (20‘), 1-1 Diani (29‘)
Yellow cards: Oberdorf / Karchaoui
Referee: Cheryl Foster (Wales)
Attendance: 14,367 at Volkswagen Arena
