Women

VfL Women reach the DFB Cup final

The She-Wolves beat FC Carl Zeiss Jena 5-4 on penalties.

The VfL Wolfsburg women have reached the final of the DFB-Pokal. After 120 minutes of an intense semi-final at FC Carl Zeiss Jena ended goalless (0-0), the She-Wolves prevailed 5-4 in the penalty shootout. VfL controlled large parts of the game but lacked the necessary cutting edge in front of goal. Jena defended passionately and forced the Lower Saxony side into extra time.

PERSONNEL

Stephan Lerch made one change to the starting XI compared to the previous match: Janou Levels started in place of Thea Bjelde. In addition, Joelle Wedemeyer replaced Justine Kielland at short notice, with the latter sidelined due to knee problems.

MATCH PROCEEDINGS

The game began cautiously, with both teams feeling each other out in the opening stages. As the match progressed, the VfL women took greater control and created their first chances, through Lineth Beerensteyn (29’) and Vivien Endemann (32’), but without posing a decisive threat. Jena also produced attacking moments but were likewise unable to find the net. Overall, it developed into an open contest with attempts at both ends, though the final touch was lacking. After an intense 45 minutes, it was goalless at the break. After the restart, the game remained hard-fought, characterised by numerous duels in midfield.

The She-Wolves increased the pressure and created further chances, including through Beerensteyn (51’) and Sarai Linder (90+3), while Jena remained sporadically dangerous (67’). In the closing stages, the Green-Whites pushed for a winner, but Janning’s saves kept them at bay (90+6). Extra time followed a similar pattern: Wolfsburg dominated but found no solutions against the hosts’ compact defence (102’, 108’). The best chance fell to Ella Peddemors (110’), while Jena remained dangerous from set pieces (115’). The match was ultimately decided on penalties, where the She-Wolves prevailed 5-4 to book their place in the DFB Cup final in Cologne on 14 May.

GOALS

  • 0:1 Bonsu (pen.): Jena open the shootout and convert confidently to take the lead.
     
  • 1:1 Minge (pen.): Janina Minge equalises calmly for the She-Wolves.
     
  • 1:2 Ihlenburg (pen.): Jena remain clinical from the spot.
     
  • 1:2 Beerensteyn (pen.): Lineth Beerensteyn misses, her effort is not converted.
     
  • 1:3 Reuter (pen.): The hosts’ third attempt also finds the net.
     
  • 2:3 Peddemors (pen.): Ella Peddemors reduces the deficit with a composed finish.
     
  • 2:4 Mühlemann (pen.): Jena restore their two-goal cushion.
     
  • 3:4 Linder (pen.): Sarai Linder keeps her nerve and scores.
     
  • 3:4 Sträßer (pen.): Stina Johannes makes a strong save to keep the She-Wolves in the game.
     
  • 4:4 Huth (pen.): Svenja Huth equalises.
     
  • 4:4 Gaißer (pen.): Johannes steps up again and saves.
     
  • 5:4 Vallotto (pen.): Smilla Vallotto converts the decisive penalty to send Wolfsburg into the final.

Reaction

Stephan Lerch: I haven’t actually experienced this many penalty shootouts on the way to a final before – they were all special, intense matches that pushed us to our limits. That makes it all the more important that we came out on top in the end, because that’s what ultimately counts. A huge weight has been lifted off our shoulders. We’re very proud to be part of the final again. Today was a real rollercoaster of emotions, and we need to process that first. You could tell that the game in Lyon was still having an effect – both physically and mentally. Nevertheless, the team gave everything. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to get the ball over the line, but what you have to give the team great credit for is its mentality and resilience. They never gave up, always believed, and threw everything into it until the very end.

LINE-UPS AND STATISTICS

VfL Wolfsburg: Johannes – Linder, Dijkstra, Küver (73’ Bergsvand), Levels (89’ Kleinherne) – Peddemors, Minge, Kielland (0’ Wedemeyer) – Huth, Beerensteyn, Endemann (106’ Vallotto)

Substitutes: Tufekovic (GK), Bjelde, Kerim-Lindland, Zicai

FC Carl Zeiss Jena: Janning – Juckel (106’ Schenk), Sträßer, Ihlenburg, Mummert (68’ Schmid) – Bonsu, Reske (82’ Gaißer), Mühlemann, Reuter – Tietz (98’ Haering), Alcaide (118’ Julevic)

Substitutes: Etzold (GK), Fischer, Heuschkel, Lehmann

Goals: 0-0 a.e.t., 5-4 on penalties

Yellow cards: Bonsu

Referee: Angelika Söder (Schwarzenbruck)

Attendance: 2,114 at the ad hoc Arena im Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.