The VfL Wolfsburg footballers celebrated an immensely important Champions League home win, but have to worry about Alexandra Popp.
A week after the 1:3 at OL Lyonnes, the German runner-up won against Manchester United 5:2 (3:2) after falling behind, with captain Popp limping off the field after an hour with a knee injury.
The Dutch Ella Peddemors (17th/37th) and Lineth Beerensteyn (45th+1/65th) as well as Vivien Endemann (90th+6) scored wonderfully for Wolfsburg after ex-Wolves Fridolina Rolfö (14th) shocked VfL early on. Melvine Malard (45th + 2) also shortened the score for the guests. With nine points from four games, Wolfsburg is fully on track to survive the winter in international business.
In front of 3,817 fans in the VW Arena, things started in quick succession. First, Rolfö punished the sloppy Wolfsburg defense with a header from close range. Then Peddemors responded to a bad pass from Manchester’s goalkeeper with a wonderful hit from the edge of the penalty area. Safia Middleton-Patel also didn’t look good with Peddemors’ second goal from a good 25 meters.
VfL Wolfsburg brave even without Popp
Shortly before the break, striker Beerensteyn again scored from a distance, but Malard quickly hit back with a volley from the jump. Even without Popp, who was painfully substituted (59th), VfL remained courageous in the second half, Beerensteyn scored her fourth goal of the season in the Champions League, and Endemann, who came on as a substitute, put the finishing touches.
Wolfsburg will continue in the league phase on December 9th and 17th with further impressive encounters. First there will be a guest appearance at Real Madrid, and finally FC Chelsea will be visiting Lower Saxony.