Arsenal 1-1 Wolfsburg: Lotte Wubben-Moy cancelled out Tabea Wassmuth’s first-half header

Arsenal 1-1 Wolfsburg: Lotte Wubben-Moy cancelled out Tabea Wassmuth’s first-half header at the Emirates to salvage a late draw

  • Wassmuth scored in the 19th minute of the game to give Wolfsburg FC the lead 
  • But, Arsenal defender Wubben-Moy levelled in the 89th minute to level the score
  • Arsenal dominated for prolonged periods of this game but struggled to convert
  • Wubben-Moy’s late strike means it is all to play for in next week’s second leg 

Lotte Wubben-Moy was the unlikely hero as Arsenal came from behind to salvage a late draw with Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

It had looked as if Tabea Wassmuth’s 19th minute header would be the difference between the two teams but defender Wubben-Moy levelled in the 89th minute, keeping her cool to hit a sublime finish into the roof of the net.

The Gunners had qualified for the knockouts with the lowest points total of any team but were worthy of their draw, and may even feel they should be taking a lead into the second leg in Germany next week.

Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy cancelled out Tabea Wassmuth’s first-half header

She levelled the score in the 89th minute of the game to see the fixture end in a draw

She levelled the score in the 89th minute of the game to see the fixture end in a draw 

They dominated for large periods of this game but struggled to turn their possession into clear cut chances and often looked like playing themselves into trouble in their own half. But Wubben-Moy’s late strike means it is still all to play for.

‘Looking at the goal, it is a very good finish,’ Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said after the game.

‘Of course it is a very special moment being a childhood fan, being at the Emirates and scoring an important goal like that.

Tabea Wassmuth header in the 19th minute was almost enough to secure Wolfsburg the win

Tabea Wassmuth header in the 19th minute was almost enough to secure Wolfsburg the win

‘You work with a player like that every day, they get to live a moment like this. 

Of course we’re all very happy for the goal as a team but also for her as an individual and understand that’s a special moment. 

MATCH FACTS

Arsenal (4-3-3): Zinsberger, Wubben-Moy, Williamson, Catley, Maritz, Wälti, Little, Miedema, McCabe (Heath 76) , Blackstenius (Maanum 83), Mead (Parris 83)

Subs not used: Williams, Beattie, Nobbs, Maanum, Boye, Wienroither

Booked: Mead, Catley

Goals: Wubben-Moy 89

Manager: Jonas Eidevall

Wolfsburg (4-2-2-2): Schult, Wedemeyer, Hendrich, Janssen, Rauch, Oberdorf (Blomqvist 90), Popp, Wassmuth (Jonsdottir 79), Lattwein, Huth, Roord (Bremer 78)

Subs not used: Kassen, Weiß, Wilms, Starke, Smits, Van de Sanden, Knaak

Booked: Rauch, Popp

Goals: Wassmuth 19

Manager: Tommy Stroot

Referee: Jana Adamkova

Sometimes in football you experience bad times and great times like that, special and we’re really happy for her.’

Arsenal started strongly with Beth Mead going close early on as she flashed a shot wide after being played through by Stina Blackstenius.

The Gunners enjoyed more of the possession in the opening stages but some loose passing in their own half led to Wolfsburg taking the lead in the 19th minute.

Wubben-Moy’s pass to Lia Walti was intercepted by Lena Lattwein, who played in Tabea Wassmuth. The forward’s shot was well saved by Manuela Zinsberger but Wolfsburg kept the attack alive and the ball was worked to Joelle Wedemeyer. Her cross picked out an unmarked Wassmuth, who would not be denied a second time as she headed the ball into the bottom right corner.

The Gunners thought they had levelled at the start of the second half after Blackstenius latched on to Walti’s through ball before rounding Schult, but the striker was correctly flagged offside.

Vivianne Miedema was then inches away from reaching Mead’s cross for a tap-in.

Wolfsburg had two glorious chances to double their lead on the hour mark but hit the post twice in a matter of seconds. First, Wassmuth’s right-footed strike from inside the box came back off the woodwork before former Arsenal midfielder Jill Roord’s effort was tipped onto the near post by Zinsberger.

Just as the game was starting to look beyond Arsenal, with Wolfsburg limiting them to half chances, up stepped Wubben-Moy to fire her childhood club level.

Tobin Heath fizzed a free-kick that went straight to the feet of the defender and she fired into the roof of the net as the Arsenal bench erupted.

It will be all to play for in next week’s second leg as both sides go head-to-head again

It will be all to play for in next week’s second leg as both sides go head-to-head again

Eidevall believes his side can go to Germany and get a result that will take them through to the semi-final.

‘We’re still developing but I said to the team after the team we have the potential and ability to perform and get results,’ Eidevall said

‘Let’s not go in with a mentality to just be happy with good performances, it has to be both performances and results. We know it’s going to be a tough return leg in Germany but we’re going to give it everything. The only thing that will make us happy is to go through.’ 

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