League champions and cup holders VfL Wolfsburg immediately dismissed any doubts regarding their progression into the next round of the Women’s Champions League and breezed through to the last sixteen last night. In the second leg of their tie against Spanish champions Atlético Madrid, the team from Niedersachsen won 12-2. Runners-up FC Bayern München’s chances of Champions League success are over as they have been eliminated by Chelsea on away goals which meant FCB are out at the first knock-out stage for the second time in the last three years.
Wolfsburg’s opponents in the round of 16 will be decided on October 16th in Nyon at 13:30 CEST and the games will take place on the 8th/9th and 15th/16th November.
Jones watches clinical Popp
The table-toppers of the Women’s Bundesliga were spectated by Germany Women’s head coach Steffi Jones. Alexandra Popp scored a 16 minute hat-trick in front of her international head coach. The Champions League victors of 2013 and 2014 dominated proceedings throughout and the goals just kept on coming for VfL Wolfsburg as they ran out clear winners.
Chelsea too strong on the counter, Bayern can’t make their chances count
In Munich, the hosts threatened the Chelsea goal from the off with Germany’s Women’s internationals Leonie Maier, Kristin Demann, Simone Laudehr and Mandy Islacker amongst their ranks. However, Bayern had to be wary of Chelsea’s threat on the counter. The first half passed by as Bayern missed clear cut chances and Chelsea looking to counter attack.
After the break, the game started off very much the same as it ended. Bayern continued to push for the opener but, on the hour mark, the Bayern defence was caught off-guard by a long ball which Fran Kirby brought down and finished with aplomb. It took Bayern some time to come back from the shock of Chelsea’s goal against the run of play. Eventually, Bayern got the equaliser courtesy on Fridolina Rolfö from a corner in the 75th minute.
Chelsea continued with their back-to-the-wall defence which was broken down towards the end of the game as Lucie Vonkova fired Bayern into a deserved lead with 7 minutes of time remaining. Bayern also had a slice of misfortune as they were denied what looked like a handball in the dying minutes of the game. It wasn’t to be for the Bayern ladies as Chelseas progressed into the next round.