Injury-laden Arsenal matched Wolfsburg right to the very end of extra time but the visitors edged the Gunners to the Champions League final in a 3-2 loss at full time, 5-4 on aggregate despite Arsenal's efforts to come from behind twice.
Stina Blackstenius granted the home side the lead early on with a perfectly timed run. She chased the ball around Wolfsburg’s Katherin Hendrich and Merle Frohms and nudged it into the back of the net in the 11th minute.
Jill Roord’s volley half an hour later brought the game back on level terms just before the break. Alexandra Popp then nodded the ball beyond Manuela Zinsberger to take the lead, swiftly cancelled out by Jen Beattie’s header.
Late into extra time, Pauline Bremer's one touch finish sent Wolfsburg into the final, and Arsenal packing.
The 60,000 crowd at the Emirates were treated to an action-packed game, Arsenal’s pressure towards the end of the first half caused absolute chaos for the Wolfsburg back line, initiated by captain McCabe.
The action continued in the second half, the Gunners’ second goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR check, just minutes after the break and gaps started to open in Arsenal’s backline, playing more disjointed football yet they managed to find the equaliser down the other end, just moments before Laura Wienroither was stretchered off with a suspected knee injury and McCabe hit the crossbar.
Player ratings:
Manuela Zinsberger - Parried away a long-range ball with confidence. Expected the shot when no one else did. Poor judgement on a bounce she was lucky not to coned from it. For the first goal, she was slow to react, while in the second she didn't react at all and let it go into the back of the net. 6
Lotte Wubben-Moy - Early call for a penalty against her ball-to-arm contact didn’t phase her performance. Carried the ball forward well, clear in her communication. The last-ditch sliding tackle was fantastically timed and clean, sensational. Assisted the second Arsenal goal. 8
Jen Beattie - Another solid performance at the back, she was always in the right place at the right time to get in the way of any Wolfsburg attack. Scored the second equaliser. 8
Rafaelle Souza - Strong at the back with perfectly timed challenges out on the left. Although she struggled to get the ball higher up the pitch in the first half - her runs and passes were intercepted, these improved in the second 45. 8
Noelle Maritz - A bit of a silly yellow card grabbing players’ outstretched arm. Was kept quiet in tonight's game. 6
Lia Walti - Quick when travelling forward with the ball but got bullied a little in the middle of the park. Quiet game. 6
Frida Maanum - Solid performance In the middle, lured in some fouls that annoyed Alexandra Popp profusely. Unlucky not to get on target with the long-range shots. Really stood out in extra times, footwork and runs energy. 8
Stephanie Catley - Excellent pace out on the left flank didn’t get involved much in the first half as what we’re used to. Understood her defensive duties well and got the better of lime green shirts several times. 6
Katie McCabe - Went down and worried plenty of fans but got right back into the game with a tremendous run. Gave it her all with tough challenges (as always) while drawing a lot of important fouls too. Her last ditch effort tapped the cross bar in the dying minutes of the game. 8
Victoria Pelova - Incredible footwork and forward play to Katie McCabe early on. Great set-piece deliveries. 7
Stina Blackstenius - Gave Arsenal the lead in the second leg twice, but the second got disallowed. Worked exceptionally hard, annoying the Wolfsburg back line. Played with so much confidence. Real fantastic performance on her 50th appearance. Was surprised she subbed off. 9
NEW! Our Year: European Champions 2022 - The Official England Winners Book with a foreword by England manager Sarina Wiegman, this is the only official book of the historic triumph, reliving every kick of a thrilling tournament and telling the stories of the players who made it all happen.
Order now from: reachsportshop.com/https://reachsportshop.com/book/our-year-european-champion-2022/
