After sharing the points 1-1 last week in Rome, VfL Wolfsburg Women got the victory they needed in the return fixture to put one foot in the knockout rounds. In what was an exciting match for fans and neutrals alike, VfL defeated AS Roma 4-2 in the Champions League in front of a crowd of 2,700, giving them every chance of going through to the quarter-finals as Group B winners.
VfL Women will be back to business on Sunday 11 December, again at the AOK Stadium, when they host SV Meppen at 13:00 CET. After that, they will have another two Champions League matches before the year is out – at home to Slavia Prague (16 December at 21:00 CET) and away at St. Pölten (22 December at 18.45 CET).
Goals
1-0 Pajor (23’): Sveindis Jonsdottir races to the byline and sends the ball into the box, where Ewa Pajor is on hand to convert and give VfL a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
2-0 Jonsdottir (41’): Lena Oberdorf sends a clever ball forward and finds Jonsdottir, who keeps her cool and slots it past the goalkeeper inside the near post to make it 2-0.
2-1 Alves (43’): Lena Lattwein gives the ball away to Andressa Alves, who needs no second bidding and curls the ball over Frohms from 35 metres out and into the back of the net.
3-1 Lattwein (52’): A corner from Felicitas Rauch finds the head of Alexandra Popp, but the ball takes a deflection. Ceasar in the visitors’ goal fails to clear it, however, and Lattwein is able to nod it home.
4-1 Pajor (53’): Another header, another goal – Pajor eludes the Roma defence and nods in the fourth.
4-2 Haug (77’): Annamaria Serturini floats over a cross from the left and Sophie Haug sticks out a leg and slides the ball home at the far post to reduce the deficit.
Reaction
Tommy Stroot: “That’s three very important points in terms of the road to the quarter-finals. We know that Roma are a tough team to play, and what was really important for me was to match them in that respect. There were various periods during the match when we were able to play to our strengths. In the first half in particular, we found some really good spaces and got our rewards in the form of a 2-0 lead. After the break, we were aggressive and took the chances that came our way.”
Line-ups and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Frohms – Wilms, Hendrich, Janssen, Rauch – Lattwein, Oberdorf (63‘ Hegering) – Huth (93‘ Blomqvist), Roord (12‘ Jonsdottir), Popp (63‘ Waßmuth) – Pajor (63‘ Brand)
Subs: Weiß (GK), Wedemeyer, Bremer, Demann, Wolter, Starke
AS Rom: Caesar – Minami, Linari, Wenninger, Bartoli – Alves (75’ Lazaro), Giugliano, Greggi – Glionna, Giacinti (63’ Haug), Haavi (63’ Serturini)
Subs: Lind (GK), Öhrström (GK), Cinotti, Landström, Ciccotti, Kajzba, Ferrara, Bergersen, Kramzar
Goals: 1-0 Pajor (23’), 2-0 Jonsdottir (41’), 2-1 Alves (43’), 3-1 Lattwein (52’), 4-1 Pajor (53’), 4-2 Haug (77’)
Yellow cards: Alves, Giugliano / Oberdorf, Popp
Referee: Rebecca Welch (England)
Attendance: 2.721 on Thursday evening at the AOK Stadium
