VfL Wolfsburg throws Paris St. Germain out of the Champions League, but has to tremble until the final whistle – also because goal scorer Alexandra Popp misses a huge chance.
< img src="https://static.dw.com/image/65188170_303.jpg" />
Alexandra Popp (2nd from left) is happy about her goal to make it 1-0
“At the end of the day I want to collect titles and raise trophies,” said Alexandra Popp recently. The 31-year-old still has the chance to create the triple of German championship, DFB Cup victory and triumph in the Champions League with the “wolves” this season. In Europe's premier class, Popp and Co. drew 1-1 (1-1) in the second leg against Paris St. Germain to reach the semi-finals. Popp and Co. won the first leg in Paris 1-0. In the round of the top four, Wolfsburg will meet English club FC Arsenal in April, who knocked out Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Both goals in the first half
In front of almost 15,000 spectators in the large VfL stadium, Wolfsburg and PSG fought an exciting and high-class duel that lasted over 90 minutes. The French women owned the initial phase before Popp struck: With a flick from 18 meters, the striker put the initially nervous Wolfsburg women in the lead with her first shot on goal (20th minute). At the other end, it was PSG's best striker, Kadidiatou Diani, who headed in to make it 1-1 (30'). However, Diani then had to leave the field in the extension of the first round with a shoulder injury from the edge of the penalty area lands in the upper right corner of the PSG goal
Huge chances missed
In the second half, Popp could, indeed should, have made a preliminary decision early on. But she managed the feat of not putting the ball in the net from three meters but shooting it at the right post (53'). Popp couldn't believe it himself afterwards. Jill Roord later also missed a free-standing for VfL (58'), a header from Lena Oberdorf landed on the crossbar (77'). PSG remained extremely dangerous even without Diani, and so the women from Wolfsburg had to tremble until the end.
Popp: “Hard fight”
“We are super happy and proud”, said goal scorer Alexandra Popp after the final whistle in an interview with broadcaster DAZN. “It was a tough fight because we missed some great chances – including myself when I hit the ball against the post.” Popp is now looking forward to the semifinals against Arsenal. “We know how they play and will be well prepared so that we can hopefully take the last step into the final.” And maybe she'll be able to lift the Champions League trophy for the third time after 2013 and 2014.