Sveindis Jonsdottir sparkled as VfL Wolfsburg Women sealed their place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals thanks to a 6-1 victory over AS Roma on Wednesday evening, exacting a measure of revenge for the 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
Alexandra Popp put the Green-and-Whites ahead in the first half (6’), only for Valentina Giacinti to equalise after the break (56’). However, Lineth Beerensteyn restored VfL’s lead shortly afterwards (65’) before Jonsdottir came off the bench and struck four times.
Goals
1-0 Popp (6’): Popp takes aim from the corner of the penalty area and curls a brilliant strike into the top corner at the far post, leaving goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar no chance.
1-1 Giacinti (56’): The She-Wolves appear to have the game under control until Giacinti capitalises on a defensive mix-up to level the score from close range.
2-1 Beerensteyn (65’): Jule Brand plays the ball forward to Popp, who lays it off to Beerensteyn to slot in from just inside the box.
3-1 Jonsdottir (68’): Roma’s Hawa Cissoko goes to clear a ball from Rebecka Blomqvist but is unaware of Jonsdottir stealing in behind her to nick the ball away. She applies a cool finish to make it 3-1.
4-1 Jonsdottir (85’): Svenja Huth squares the ball to Jonsdottir inside the box and she doesn’t need a second invitation to score her second.
5-1 Jonsdottir (89’): Jonsdottir completes her hat-trick! Blomqvist plays a brilliant pass forward and Jonsdottir scampers down the left-hand side before finishing inside the far post.
6-1 Jonsdottir (90’+ 2): Jonsdottir scores again! This time the unmarked attacker finishes from close range, putting the ball between Ceasar’s legs.
Tommy Stroot: “We were on our game right from kick-off and unsettled our opponents with our power. Overall, we controlled the game well. The way we came back after they equalised was impressive. Obviously we’re pleased to have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.”
Line-ups and stats
VfL Wolfsburg: Frohms – Wilms (88‘ Wedemeyer), Minge, Lattwein, Hegering, Linder – Blomqvist (89‘ Kalma), Huth, Brand (67‘ Endemann) – Beerensteyn (67‘ Jonsdottir), Popp
Subs: Borbe (GK), Hendrich, Hagel, Rabano, Kielland, Arias
AS Rom: Ceasar – Di Gugliemo (66’ Glionna), Linari, Cissoko, Minami – Giugliano, Kumagai, S. Troelsgaard (74’ Dragoni) – Thogersen (84’ Corelli), Giacinti, Greggi
Subs: Isabella Kresche (GK), Liliana Merolla (GK), Aigbogun, Pilgrim, Hanshaw, Pandini, Ventriglia
Goals: 1-0 Popp (6’), 1-1 Giacinti (56’), 2-1 Beerensteyn (65’), 3-1 Jonsdottir (68’), 4-1 Jonsdottir (85’), 5-1 Jonsdottir (89’), 6-1 Jonsdottir (90’+2)
Yellow cards: -/ -
Referee: Ivana Martincic (Croatia)
Attendance: 2,612 at AOK Stadion (Wolfsburg)
