The women of VfL Wolfsburg suffered a bitter setback in the Bundesliga on Friday. Coach Tommy Stroot’s team lost 1:2 (0:1) to TSG Hoffenheim, and captain Alexandra Popp was injured. With a win on Saturday, champions Bayern Munich can move ahead of the direct duel next week to within four points.
Four days after the 4-0 gala against RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg only really found their way into the game in the second half at the Dietmar Hopp Stadium – but for large parts of the match they lacked the penetration and ultimate conviction. Paulina Krumbiegel (21st) and Michaela Specht (70th) scored for TSG. Shortly before the end, Jule Brand only managed to score the next goal for the guests (88th). Hoffenheim’s Franziska Harsch was sent off with a yellow-red card in the 77th minute.
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Popp injured – Bayern can pull away to within four points
For the “Wolves”, whose national striker Popp had to be replaced injured in the first half, the defeat in third place in the table could already mean the end of all championship dreams: If the FCB wins its game against Leipzig on Saturday, the Munich team would be in before the top game against VfL Next week (March 23rd, 5:45 p.m., live on ARD) we are already four points ahead. Even if Wolfsburg won the top game, they would still be at the top of the table.
Krumbiegel puts Hoffenheim in the lead
VfL initially started the game dominantly in Hoffenheim and had their first chance after eight minutes: TSG goalkeeper Martina Tufekovic was unable to clear well in front of her goal. Popp grabbed the ball, but missed clearly from a long distance. On the other hand, Mara Alber’s shot from 14 meters was too central (12′).
As a result, the hosts were the more active team and deservedly took the lead because the “Welves” defended too laxly: Dominique Janssen cleared it with a header right at the feet of Krumbiegel, who hammered the ball into the net with a dropkick from 17 meters (21. ).
Alex Popp out injured
The Stroot team didn’t play well – and then had to accept the injury of their captain. Without any apparent influence from an opponent, Popp injured her right calf when landing and had to leave the field in pain (34th).
It was only in the final phase of the first half that the Lower Saxony team improved again – and were unlucky that Brand only hit the crossbar (43′).
Wolfsburg comes under pressure, but TSG scores
In the second half, Wolfsburg pushed for an equalizer. Fenna Kalma, who came on for Popp, finished from close range on the right of the penalty area, but Tufekovic made a strong save (54′). The Lower Saxony team restricted TSG in their own half, but often lacked precision: a large number of crosses ended up in the arms of the Hoffenheim keeper. Only another Kalma shot brought a little danger (66th).
Four minutes later it was 0-2 from VfL’s perspective: Marina Hegering blocked a shot from Fabienne Dongus in the penalty area with her hand, and Specht confidently converted the penalty.
Brand can only shorten things
Stroot’s protégés ran with the courage of desperation and were in the majority from the 77th minute onwards after Harsch was sent off for repeated foul play. Eleven minutes later, Brand headed the ball home from a throw-in. But there wasn’t enough for more – and the “She-Wolves” had to start the long journey home from Kraichgau with a big disappointment in their luggage.
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Sports current | March 15, 2024 | 9:17 p.m
