🚨 Vs PSG: Wolfsburg fight their way to UWCL semis
After Bayern’s elimination yesterday, it was Wolfsburg’s turn to play in the Champions League quarter-finals tonight. To extend sporting director Ralf Kellermann’s contract, they offered him a place in the semi-finals.
Wolfsburg manager Tommy Stroot made just two changes to the starting XI ahead of the second leg against PSG, in which his side led 1-0. Ewa Pajor and Marina Hegering were due to sit on the bench, but Alex Popp was expected to pose a threat in the Paris penalty area.
But PSG came into play better than Wolves. And gave the German side a big shock as Kadidiatou Diani scored in the eleventh minute in the VfL goal – according to video evidence the 27-year-old striker was just offside. Instead, Alex Popp showed all his skills almost ten minutes later. After a nice cross from Felicitas Rauch, she hammered the ball into the Paris goal from 16 meters – 1-0 and the semi-finals in sight!
Shortly after, Wolfsburg could have made it 2-0, but Popp’s powerful header landed in the arms of PSG goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi. The penalty followed when Diani got really serious this time and equalized with a header to make it 1-1. Wolfsburg then started to swim, but was able to save themselves during the break. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for PSG’s best player, Diani, who had to be substituted in the second half due to a shoulder injury.
The absence of Diani was noticeable in the Paris team, which hardly took place offensively. Quite the opposite of the women of Wolfsburg, who gained a tooth compared to the first half. VfL should have taken the lead with top-notch chances – how Popp was able to place the ball so freely in front of goal in the 53rd minute will remain the biggest secret for her.
Lena Oberdorf was also unlucky with her header in the 77th minute. If PSG really started in the last minutes, they were no longer able to prevent Wolfsburg from reaching the semi-finals. And the next opponent has already been decided since last night: FC Arsenal, who expelled Bayern from the tournament yesterday.
FC Barcelona – AS Roma 5:1 (1:0)
Arsenal – Bayern Munich 2-0 (2-0)
VfL Wolfsburg – Paris Saint-Germain 1:1 (1:1)
Chelsea FC – Olympique Lyon (Thursday, 9 p.m.)
