VfL Wolfsburg Women still have a realistic chance of qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) group stage after drawing 3-3 away to Paris FC in the first leg of their play-off tie.
The Green-and-Whites took the lead in a wild game in front of approximately 2,000 spectators at Stade Charlety, but later twice came from behind to salvage a draw as they increasingly took control of the game in the second half. Vivien Endemann (4’) and Alexandra Popp (30’, 73’) got the goals for the She-Wolves, who must now win the return leg on Wednesday 18 October at the AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg (kick-off 18:45 CEST) in order to qualify for the group stage.
Goals
- 0-1 Endemann (4’): Ewa Pajor puts Paris goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie under pressure while she attempts to clear the ball, and it lands at the feet of Endemann. She fires into the empty net from around 25 metres out.
- 1-1 Thiney (8’): Lisa Schmitz saves Gaëtane Thiney’s first effort from close range, but the rebound falls at the Paris attacker’s feet and this time she makes no mistake.
- 2-1 Bourdieu (16’): A long ball forward finds Clara Mateo, who crosses low into the box for Mathilde Bourdieu to make it 2-1.
- 2-2 Popp (30’): Joelle Wedemeyer’s cross into the middle finds Popp, who does what she does best and heads the ball into the net.
- 3-2 Dufour (44’): Julie Dufour collects a long ball forward in a central position and makes it 3-2 to Paris.
- 3-3 Popp (73’): Felicitas Rauch delivers a free-kick into the penalty area and Popp is first to it, heading VfL level at 3-3.
Vivien Endemann: “Obviously we wanted this to pan out differently. It’s a shame we’re not going home with a win, but now we’ll have to make sure to do so in the return leg.”
Line-ups and stats
Paris FC: Nnadozie – Soyer, Hocine, Greboval, Bogaert (84‘ Abdullina) – Le Mouel (62’ Korosec), Corboz – Mateo, Thiney, Dufour (78’ Fleury) – Bourdieu (78’ Ribadeira)
Subs: Flagellat, Pouplet, Hunter, N'Dongala, Bussy, Sissoko, Bettoumi, Sidibe
VfL Wolfsburg: Schmitz – Wedemeyer (75‘ Wilms), Hendrich, Janssen, Rauch – Huth, Oberdorf, Lattwein (85‘ Hagel) – Endemann (67‘ Brand), Popp, Pajor
Subs: Borbe, Beck, Agrez, Rabano, Hegering, Kalma, Xhemaili
Goals: 0-1 Endemann (4’), 1-1 Thiney (8’), 2-1 Bourdieu (16’), 2-2 Popp (30’), 3-2 Dufour (44’), 3-3 Popp (73’)
Yellow cards: Ribadeira / Janssen, Hendrich
Referee: Minka Vekkeli (Finland)
