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VfL Wolfsburg Women vs Arsenal Women. Women's Champions League Semi Final.

2:30pm, Sunday 23rd April 2023.

Volkswagen ArenaAttendance22,617.

VfL Wolfsburg Women 2

E Pajor (19th minute)
S Jónsdóttir (24th minute)

Arsenal Women 2

R Leone Carvalho Souza (45th minute)
S Blackstenius (69th minute)

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Wolfsburg Women 2-2 Arsenal Women: Gunners come from behind to draw in Women's Champions League semi-final first leg

Match report as Champions League top scorer Ewa Pajor and Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir saw Wolfsburg ahead; Rafaelle Souza pulled a goal back before Stina Blackstenius levelled for Arsenal; the return leg will be played on Monday May 1 at the Emirates; kick-off 5.45pm

Sunday 23 April 2023 21:21, UK

Goals from Rafaelle Souza and Stina Blackstenius saw Arsenal complete a superb comeback, drawing 2-2 at Wolfsburg in their Women's Champions League semi-final first leg.

It was a much-needed result at the end of a damaging week for the Gunners. Their captain Kim Little and vice captain Leah Williamson have both been ruled out for the season with injury, as well as suffering a damaging 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the WSL on Wednesday.

But Sunday's draw showed there is plenty of fight left in this Arsenal team yet - although they did not make life easy for themselves.

They fell behind in the 19th minute as Women's Champions League top scorer Ewa Pajor swept home. A poor error from Arsenal defence then allowed Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir to double Wolfsburg's lead in the 24th minute.

But the comeback began as Rafaelle Souza nodded home from a corner just before half-time, scoring her first European goal. It was then a superb link-up between Victoria Pelova and Stina Blackstenius that saw the latter tap in the 69th-minute equaliser.

Wolfsburg pushed hard for the third goal late on, but Arsenal survived the onslaught to set up a mouth-watering second leg at the Emirates on May 1 as the Gunners aim to reach their first European final since 2007.

After the game, Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall praised his side for their comeback, telling Sky Sports News: "Just because you make one mistake, you can't change that.

"So I thought it was really important to stick to our identity and I thought the players were so good at doing that. They were completely fearless and I admire that. I'm so proud of them for doing that."

How Arsenal fought back at Wolfsburg

It was a very quiet start at the Volkeswagen Arena, but Wolfsburg went ahead with the first shot from either side in the game. Jonsdottir found the run of Pajor in behind, and it was a fine finish into the far corner from the forward.

Five minutes later, Jonsdottir made it two after a poor error from two of Arsenal's most experienced players. Rafaelle's pass back to Jen Beattie by-passed the defender, with the Wolfsburg winger lurking before firing past Manuela Zinsberger.

Jonsdottir could have immediately added a third, but she sent a header flying over the bar from close range. Wolfsburg looked confident for much of the first half - but their defences were breached just before the break.

Frida Maanum's fierce strike was seen behind for a corner, which was delivered towards the back post. Rafaelle rose above Lena Oberdorf to power her header past the goalkeeper and give Arsenal a lifeline.

For the first 20 minutes of the second half, the game was quite disjointed and scrappy, but Wolfsburg went close to a third in the 67th minute. Substitute Tabea Wassmuth lifted a header of the crossbar from close range.

It proved to be a big miss too as Arsenal equalised minutes later. Pelova was picked out by Lotte Wubben-Moy and beat Dominique Janssen down the left of the area. Her fizzing cross through the six-yard area was then tapped home by Blackstenius to complete the Gunners' turnaround.

Wolfsburg should have added a third before the end of the game as Arsenal continued to live dangerously. Former Gunner Jill Roord edge a shot past the post, with Jonsdottir and Wassmuth also going close. Somehow, the Gunners held on after fighting back, levelling the playing field ahead of the second leg on May 1.

Eidevall: We have the chance to play for everything

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall to Sky Sports News:

"You have to remain process-orientated. We have an identity and a way we want to play to our strengths and I think that was a real strong moment from us.

"Obviously we give away the ball very cheaply for the second goal, but it's also something we want to be good at - playing out from the back, to be controlling the positions and we need to be brave and fearless to play.

"They gave us very little time and space, you have to be brave and to find the free player to change the way of attack against them.

"It's not easy, but when we are managing to do it, we are creating some really good goalscoring opportunities. We also have to be very defensively solid, we need work as a unit.

"We play very differently to Wolfsburg… we all have to be on the same page and we managed to do that, even if at the end, we are tired and they went close to scoring. We rode that out with a combination of skill and luck.

"It's really important to remain composed. It's only half time. The only thing that was important today was to get a result where we have everything to play for and to decide this game in London.

"We have the chance now to play for everything, but so has Wolfsburg, it's going to be exciting - buy tickets!

"If we can fill the Emirates and get behind the team and rally behind them from the first second, it can make the difference… Let's create another memorable game."

Skinner: Arsenal now have a fantastic chance of making the final

Rehanne Skinner on Sky Sports News:

"Arsenal have ridden a storm, Wolfsburg had three chances towards the end, but Arsenal now have a fantastic chance of making the final when they meet again at the Emirates.

"There were two really competitive sides trying to get the best out of the game. Credit to Arsenal, they were behind in the game, but they made sure they stuck to their task and made life really difficult for Wolfsburg.

"And now they have the opportunity to play them at home when they can really make life difficult for them and they are now in a good position."