2023-05-02 16:59:58
AWhen she was supposed to describe the moment, which she will probably never forget, she looked for words – and then found them: “I just somehow pushed the thing over the line and can’t believe it,” said Pauline Bremer. In the VfL Wolfsburg football team, she plays more of a supporting role. But on that Champions League night in London, as the game against Arsenal approached a penalty shoot-out, the attacking substitute slipped into the lead.
Assist by Jule Brand, Bremer scored the winning goal in the 119th minute: final! The Wolfsburg team followed up the 2-2 win in the first leg with a 3-2 win after extra time. The goalscorer called the game in London a rollercoaster ride, which will now experience an extra round – on June 3 in Eindhoven: There Bremer and her team will meet FC Barcelona in the final.
Subtle difference between the teams
Who knows how the rollercoaster ride would have ended if Arsenal captain Katie McCabe had hit the goal instead of the crossbar in the second half of extra time. “For the spectators,” said Wolfsburg midfielder Jill Roord, “it was an outstanding game.” And there were many people who were able to experience it: 60,053 people, more than ever before at a club game played by a women’s team in England.
The subtle difference between two almost equally strong teams became visible during extra time. When more and more London players were plagued by cramps, VfL Wolfsburg had a little more to offer, also because players like Brand and Bremer could come on as substitutes. The squad is almost too full for the Bundesliga. On this Monday evening, however, the club management in Wolfsburg again received good arguments as to why they could afford so many top players.
The atmosphere in the sold-out arena in London could be described as enthusiastic and rarely unfair. The early lead for the English team through a goal by Stina Blackstenius was followed by the Wolfsburg team equalizing from Roord and a headed goal from the tireless Alexandra Popp before Jennifer Beattie forced an extra time with the 2-2. Exchanging details or tactical instructions on the pitch was almost impossible because of the applause and jeers.
“Personally, I think it’s great when almost the whole stadium is against you,” said Popp later. The top scorer missed the first leg due to injury. In London she gave her team support and hope. “Poppi has the gift of reading a game on a mentality level. It’s an important factor and stabilizer,” said VfL head coach Tommy Stroot.
While the players rushed to thank goal scorer Bremer after the final whistle to thank Stroot for the decisive goal, Stroot remained true to his reputation as an objective analyst. “I enjoyed the way the players cheered. But we still have a final to play. And I’m not done yet,” said the 34-year-old.
Under the direction of Stroot and thanks to the groundwork of sporting director Ralf Kellermann, who was the team coach himself until 2017, the “wolves” managed to develop internationally and gain character. The way in which Brand, brought in from TSG Hoffenheim, forced Arsenal’s decisive error could be explained by courage and fitness. When the players from London couldn’t gain any more, the ones from Wolfsburg searched and found the decision.
The fear of FC Barcelona, where the Wolfsburg women failed in the semifinals last year, is limited. On the contrary. With a view to the final in Eindhoven, bold tones can be heard. “We are an opponent who can also hurt Barça,” said coach Stroot. And his exceptional talent Popp added: “I think we haven’t played out all our quality yet.”
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