VfL Wolfsburg Women shared the points in a thrilling 3-3 draw with SV Werder Bremen in their 2024/25 Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga opener on Monday evening. Playing in front of a crowd of 3,043 at the AOK Stadion, the She-Wolves took the lead through Sarai Linder (11’) after dominating the early stages but trailed 2-1 at the break after being undone by two long balls late in the first half. There were chances at both ends after the interval but despite second-half efforts from Lena Lattwein (61’) and Alexandra Popp (66’), there was no separating the two teams at full time.
Goals
- 1-0 Linder (11’): Linder plays the ball out to the left into Lineth Beerensteyn, who does well to get the better of Michelle Ulbrich in the penalty area. Her shot is heading wide after taking a deflection off a Bremen defender, but Linder is on hand to slide the ball home.
- 1-1 Mahmoud (35’): A long free-kick finds its way to Tuana Mahmoud, who outfoxes Lynn Wilms on the edge of the box before steering a shot past goalkeeper Merle Frohms.
- 1-2 Mühlhaus (40’): Another long ball from inside the Bremen half into the She-Wolves’ area finds Larissa Mühlhaus, who outmuscles Joelle Wedemeyer and slams the ball into the bottom right corner.
- 2-2 Lattwein (61’): Svenja Huth’s lofted corner is headed home at the far post by Lattwein to bring Wolfsburg level again.
- 2-3 Frohms (63’, OG): A moment to forget for the VfL defence. Frohms tries to prevent Janina Minge’s overhit pass from trickling into her own net but can’t get enough on the ball to divert it wide of the post.
- 3-3 Popp (66’): Livia Peng’s clearance strikes Popp and bounces towards her own goal. The Bremen goalkeeper tries to parry the ball clear before it crosses the line, but the goal is given.
Reaction
Tommy Stroot: “We should have added a second after taking the lead. It’s frustrating to concede the way we did. We should have scored more and I’m disappointed with our start to the season and the result.”
Line-ups and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Frohms – Wilms (56’ Rabano), Hendrich, Wedemeyer, Linder – Lattwein – Huth, Minge – Endemann (56‘ Brand), Popp, Beerensteyn
Subs: Schmitz (GK), Hagel, Papp, Kielland, Kalma, Arias, Heger
SV Werder Bremen: Peng – Brandenburg (81‘ Wirtz), Ulbrich, Nemeth, Siems – Walkling, Schmidt, Dieckmann, Wichmann (75‘ Papai/90‘+3 Dahms) – Mahmoud, Mühlhaus (75‘ Arfaoui)
Subs: Lemey (GK), Dahl, A. Mahmoud, Matheis,
Goals: 1-0 Linder (11‘), 1-1 Mahmoud (35‘), 1-2 Mühlhaus (40‘), 2-2 Lattwein (61‘), 2-3 Frohms (own goal/63‘), 3-3 Popp (66‘)
Yellow card: Huth
Yellow-Red card: Schmidt
Referee: Nadine Westerhoff (Bochum)
Attendance: 3,043 at AOK Stadion (Wolfsburg)
