Wolfsburg Women 2 – 2 Arsenal Women

April 21, 2023 admin

Goals from Rafaelle Souza and Stina Blackstenius saw Arsenal complete a superb comeback, drawing 2-2 at Wolfsburg in their Women’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

It was a much-needed result at the end of a damaging week for the Gunners. Their captain Kim Little and vice captain Leah Williamson have both been ruled out for the season with injury, as well as suffering a damaging 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the WSL on Wednesday.

But Sunday’s draw showed there is plenty of fight left in this Arsenal team yet – although they did not make life easy for themselves.

They fell behind in the 19th minute as Women’s Champions League top scorer Ewa Pajor swept home. A poor error from Arsenal defence then allowed Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir to double Wolfsburg’s lead in the 24th minute.

But the comeback began as Rafaelle Souza nodded home from a corner just before half-time, scoring her first European goal. It was then a superb link-up between Victoria Pelova and Stina Blackstenius that saw the latter tap in the 69th-minute equaliser.

Wolfsburg pushed hard for the third goal late on, but Arsenal survived the onslaught to set up a mouth-watering second leg at the Emirates on May 1 as the Gunners aim to reach their first European final since 2007.

How Arsenal fought back at Wolfsburg

It was a very quiet start at the Volkeswagen Arena, but Wolfsburg went ahead with the first shot from either side in the game. Jonsdottir found the run of Pajor in behind, and it was a fine finish into the far corner from the forward.

Five minutes later, Jonsdottir made it two after a poor error from two of Arsenal’s most experienced players. Rafaelle’s pass back to Jen Beattie by-passed the defender, with the Wolfsburg winger lurking before firing past Manuela Zinsberger.

Jonsdottir could have immediately added a third, but she sent a header flying over the bar from close range. Wolfsburg looked confident for much of the first half – but their defences were breached just before the break.

Frida Maanum’s fierce strike was seen behind for a corner, which was delivered towards the back post. Rafaelle rose above Lena Oberdorf to power her header past the goalkeeper and give Arsenal a lifeline.

For the first 20 minutes of the second half, the game was quite disjointed and scrappy, but Wolfsburg went close to a third in the 67th minute. Substitute Tabea Wassmuth lifted a header of the crossbar from close range.

It proved to be a big miss too as Arsenal equalised minutes later. Pelova was picked out by Lotte Wubben-Moy and beat Dominique Janssen down the left of the area. Her fizzing cross through the six-yard area was then tapped home by Blackstenius to complete the Gunners’ turnaround.

Wolfsburg should have added a third before the end of the game as Arsenal continued to live dangerously. Former Gunner Jill Roord edge a shot past the post, with Jonsdottir and Wassmuth also going close. Somehow, the Gunners held on after fighting back, levelling the playing field ahead of the second leg on May 1.

Skinner: Arsenal now have a fantastic chance of making the final

Rehanne Skinner on Sky Sports News:

“Arsenal have ridden a storm, Wolfsburg had three chances towards the end, but Arsenal now have a fantastic chance of making the final when they meet again at the Emirates.

“There were two really competitive sides trying to get the best out of the game. Credit to Arsenal, they were behind in the game, but they made sure they stuck to their task and made life really difficult for Wolfsburg.

“And now they have the opportunity to play them at home when they can really make life difficult for them and they are now in a good position.”