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DFB-Pokal women: VfL Wolfsburg triumphs in front of an impressive record crowd

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VfL Wolfsburg triumphs in front of an impressive record crowd

As of 7:04 p.m

And in the end, VfL celebrates: Wolfsburg has defended the title for the eighth time

And in the end, VfL celebrates: Wolfsburg has defended the title for the eighth time

Quelle: Getty Images/Alex Grimm

The sport almost became a minor matter in the DFB Cup final between Freiburg and Wolfsburg. VfL won for the ninth time in a row. But in the end, even the losers were able to enjoy the experience.

Alexandra Popp focused on the essentials. “That’s what makes football. That so many fans are here and support us, support Freiburg, support women’s football. I hope it stays that way,” said the experienced national striker, who had previously won the DFB Cup final with VfL Wolfsburg 4-1 (1-1) against SC Freiburg after an unexpectedly tough fight.

With the tenth success, VfL is now the sole record winner, but the big issue was the record crowd of 44,808 spectators in Cologne. “It’s an amazing backdrop here, a great atmosphere. It’s so nice that we can experience this. We too can absorb and enjoy it all”, Freiburg’s player Janina Minge was enthusiastic despite the defeat. “The setting is world class. Really great. I’m proud,” said her trainer Theresa Merk.

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After the practically lost championship, the women from Wolfsburg celebrated their first title win this season. In the final of the Champions League on June 3 in Eindhoven against FC Barcelona, ​​they can go one better – but that will be difficult in this form.

Four days after the surprising 4-0 draw in the Bundesliga at Eintracht Frankfurt, coach Tommy Stroot’s VfL women left no doubt that they wanted to win their ninth cup in a row. After a cross from Lynn Wilms, Lisa Karl maneuvered the ball into her own goal to make it 0:1 (4th minute), even though Popp was initially given as the scorer. After the unfortunate start for Freiburg, young international Minge deservedly equalized in the sold-out Rhein-Energie Stadium (42nd). Rebecka Blomqvist (57′), Popp (84′) and Dominique Janssen with a hand penalty (89′) scored against Freiburg’s strong goalkeeper Gabrielle Lambert in the second half.

The fourth Wolfsburg goal was preceded by the first VAR appearance in a women’s cup final. After a tip from the video assistant and looking at the video images, main referee Fabienne Michel decided on handball and penalty kicks.

Pyrotechnics in the Freiburg block

The previous record attendance of 26,282 fans at the 2010 premiere in Cologne between FCR Duisburg and USC Jena was increased significantly. Unusual for a women’s game that the stadium announcer had to warn the loud Freiburg fans not to burn any pyrotechnics before kick-off. “Fantastic! We’re all happy, we’re all enjoying it, it’s a great atmosphere. The Freiburg block in particular is really alarming,” said national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg at halftime in the Sky interview and praised the Freiburg women: “At first they were very nervous, now they are in the game. Now it’s open.”

In the end, Wolfsburg trumped 1. FFC Frankfurt, who had won the cup nine times. It was Popp’s twelfth victory in the DFB Cup, having already triumphed twice with Duisburg. The captain of the German national team missed the 2-0 after 15 minutes when her shot went just wide of the post. Otherwise, the 32-year-old had to take a lot against not squeamish opponents.

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Even without the injured DFB players Lena Lattwein and Marina Hegering and with goal scorer Ewa Pajor initially only on the bench, VfL initially dominated the encounter. The SC players, who only lost 1-0 to Wolfsburg in the 2019 final, were chasing a lot from the start. Coach Theresa Merk’s team had to give up more and more scoring chances to their experienced opponents, but came back shortly before the break: first national goalkeeper Merle Frohms saved against Lisa Karl, then Minge headed in to equalize.

Freiburg went into the second half with a lot of self-confidence, but showed themselves to be unsorted when they conceded the next goal against a VfL that was only partially convincing. Nevertheless, the outsiders didn’t give up and put Wolfsburg under pressure from time to time.

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