Wolfsburg are into the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League for the third time in four seasons after holding off Paris Saint-Germain in a 1-1 draw at the Volkswagen Arena.
The German came into the second leg in possession of a slender 1-0 aggregate lead thanks to a Dominique Janssen penalty in Paris last week.
Alexandra Popp’s stunning first half goal, her first in this competition for more than two years, was ultimately what decided the tie. The veteran forward struck a sweet first-time shot from the edge of the box that looped over PSG goalkeeper and eight-time UWCL winner Sarah Bouhaddi.
Wolfsburg had plenty of chance to build on their lead throughout the game, with Popp seeing a diving header saved not long after her goal and later missing other chances.
PSG equalised through Kadidiatou Diani in the first half to get them back within one goal of tying the aggregate score, flicking a header in from six yards.
To their credit, both sides went at it trying to get the next goal, with Popp going closest of all in the second half when she hit the post from point-blank range when it might have been easier to score.
Wolfsburg have now reached eight Champions League semi-finals – only Lyon have played in more – and have gone on to lift the trophy twice. With the entire knockout bracket already mapped out when the quarter-final draw was made, they will face Arsenal after the Gunners emerged victorious over two legs against Bayern Munich. The tie will be played in late April.
GK: Frohms (6); RB: Wilms (7), CB: Hendrich (7), CB: Janssen (7), LB: Rauch (8); CM: Oberdorf (7), CM: Lattwein (6) ;RM: Huth (8), AM: Roord (7), LM: Jonsdottir (6); ST: Popp (9)
Subs: Pajor (6), Brand (N/A)
GK: Bouhaddi (7); RB: Lawrence (7), CB: Jean-Francois (7), CB: Geyoro (8), LB: Karchaoui (7); CM: Fazer (6), CM: Hamraoui (7), CM: Bachmann (6); RW: Baltimore (6), ST: Diani (7), LW: Martens (7)
Subs: Vangsgaard (6), Li (6), Albert (6), Traore (6)
Player of the match – Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg)
Credit: 90min.com
