WOLFSBURG, Germany (Reuters) – Twice European champions VfL Wolfsburg let a two-goal lead slip at home against Arsenal as the English side fought back valiantly to earn a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final on Sunday.
Ewa Pajor and Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir gave the home side a 2-0 lead inside the first half hour but Arsenal reduced the deficit on the stroke of halftime before Stina Blackstenius levelled the tie in the second half.
Wolfsburg took the lead in the 19th minute when Jonsdottir chested down a lob and spotted Pajor making a run in behind the defence, finding the Polish striker with a clinical through-ball for her to fire home.
Just as Arsenal looked to recover from the blow, the German team doubled the lead five minutes later thanks to a wayward pass from the London club as they attempted to play out from the back.
Rafaelle Souza’s attempted pass back inside the box did not find her team mate Jen Beattie and Jonsdottir’s eyes lit up as the ball fell at her feet, allowing the Icelandic player to beat the keeper.
The Arsenal defender made up for the error when she timed her leap well to head home a corner with enough power at the back post to give the visitors a lifeline.
Arsenal levelled the game in the second half when Victoria Pelova received the ball behind the defence on the right flank and the Dutchwoman only had to cross the ball into the box where Blackstenius was on hand for a simple tap-in.
Former Arsenal midfielder Jill Roord nearly made it 3-2 for Wolfsburg late in the game but she dragged her shot inches wide of the far post as Arsenal managed to cling on for the draw ahead of the second leg at Emirates Stadium on May 1.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; editing by Clare Fallon)
