The decision was only made in the 98th minute: The FC Bayern women won the second Champions League group game against Benfica Lisbon.
A deficit, a mistake by the keeper, bad luck with injuries, connection, equalization, a penalty saved and then the winning goal to make it 3-2 in the eighth minute of added time – the CL group game between FC Bayern Frauen and Benfica Lisbon could hardly have been more turbulent. In the end there was a happy ending for the women of Munich.
Bayern starts strong
The Bayern women initially got into the game well. They put offensive pressure on and pushed for an early goal. Carolin Simon crossed to the second post in the 3rd minute, where Linda Dallmann didn’t catch the ball properly, otherwise it would have been dangerous. Only six minutes later, the next good chance for the guests from Munich: Lina Magull took a short corner, Klara Bühl got the ball and shot from the right edge of the penalty area with force – to the left post.
Little creativity in the penalty area
The Munich team kept going, but lacked the creativity to beat the Lisbon team in the penalty area. So it was still 0-0 after a good forty minutes of play. Shortly before the break, however, Benfica reported impressively back in front of the guests’ goal. Ana Vitoria won the ball in midfield, then passed it to Cloé Lacasse, who played a flat ball into the box to Nycole Raysla from the left flank. The Brazilian shot safely and scored to make it 1-0 for the hosts.
FCB women experience déjà vu
It was a déjà vu for the FCB women, they fell behind in the first group game against Rosengard, but were able to turn it into a win. However, the second half on the Benfica campus initially did not go in favor of the guests.
Magull injured, Grohs with a big blunder
Magull headed the ball onto the goal roof after a cross from Linda Dallmann. Another good chance for the Munich team, but Magull was injured. She fell roughly after the header and probably hit her opponent’s knee with her head. For a long time she had to be treated lying on the ground, the captain couldn’t go any further.
Shortly after the game started again, the Portuguese attacked. The Bayern keeper Maria Luisa Grohs did not look good. She grabbed the harmless shot on goal from Lacasse next to the ball, which then tumbled into the goal – the 2-0 lead for Benfica (59th).
Munich women continue to fight for compensation
As the game progressed, the guests from Munich caught themselves, consistently worked forward and were rewarded. After a corner from Simon, Maximiliane Rall converted a header to make it 1:2 in the 67th minute.
That gave the Bayern players a boost, and in the closing stages they turned up the heat again. In the 83rd minute, Georgia Stanway got the ball just outside the penalty area, she boldly shot and scored to make it 2-2. Everything seemed possible again, but then the hosts were awarded penalties after a foul by Saki Kumagai. Keeper Maria Luisa Grohs made up for the previous mistake, saving the penalty against Ana Vitoria.
Last minute winning goal
The game seemed to be over when Stanway fought for the ball again in the opponent’s half and then hit it from around 18 meters to make it 3-2. The Munich team played an absolutely crazy game in the 98th minute and are now heading home with three points.