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Sam Kerr: The Australian Federation paid her $ 400,000 a season to play at home
Photo: PETER KOHALMI / AFP
Frustration kick:
The last big upset from Wolfsburg's point of view occurred in the 29th minute.
Striker Ewa Pajor had just hit the post but did not shoot the ball against the aluminum.
She kicked the gate post with her foot.
Out of frustration.
Shortly before, the Wolfsburg-based woman had missed a cross, it was one of the very few dangerous VfL opportunities against Chelsea FC in Budapest (yes, the women's Champions League has also discovered the Hungarian capital as an international Corona venue).
Result of the game:
Last year VfL was in the final of the Champions League.
This season is already in the quarterfinals.
The first leg against Chelsea a week ago, the Wolfsburg had lost, but dominated.
In the second leg, however, the English were unstoppable - and Wolfsburg had no chance: 0: 3 (0: 2) was the final result.
England's leaders are now in the semi-finals, which will take place on April 24th and May 1st.
Then it goes against the victorious team from the game between FC Bayern and FC Rosengard (first leg: 3-0).
The start:
Wolfsburg were the more active team, but didn't take too much risk after the first leg - a 1-0 win would have been enough for them to advance.
For the first time, a cross in the eleventh minute caused an increased pulse, but Chelsea keeper Ann-Kathrin Berger got a fingertip on the ball and defused the situation.
Then Chelsea found the gap when VfL had moved up too far.
Duel of the game:
A long ball in the direction of Sam Kerr embarrassed the VfL defense.
Kerr marched, and when Sara Doorsoun hit her lightly in the thigh, the Australian went down - there was a penalty that Pernille Harder converted (27th minute).
Just four minutes later there was another duel between Doorsoun and Kerr, the VfL defender provided Kerr, but the 27-year-old blocked the ball and used her body strongly, Kerr turned towards the goal and scored the 2-0.
A wonderful striker's goal.
Player of the game:
The outstanding attacker Harder is often talked about, but her strike partner, Kerr, is probably just as good.
She is ruthless in the penalty area.
Kerr scored in the first leg, scored three goals in the FA Cup final two weeks ago and now she was outstanding again.
Samantha Kerr can play big games.
Superpower England:
And the fact that Chelsea can afford a second player of this format in attack alongside Kerr - who has been in the Blues jersey since 2020 - Harder, also speaks for the financial possibilities of the English league.
"England is in the process of leaving us behind," said Stephan Lerch in the SPIEGEL interview before the game.
In Australia, Kerr is said to have raked in $ 400,000 per season, which lasts just four months, and played the rest of the year in the United States.
The association paid the salary in Australia to keep the Kerr, so popular in their homeland, in the national league.
Missing of the game:
That was Lena Oberdorf, who was absent due to a yellow card suspension.
The 19-year-old came to Wolfsburg in the summer, she is considered one of the greatest talents in world football - and she is now a fixture at VfL, she fills holes, VfL could have used her.
In the 81st minute, Francesca Kirby even made it 3-0, and the third Chelsea striker had scored that afternoon.
The DFB applicant:
Chelsea goalkeeper Berger is playing a strong season, in 13 appearances in the English league she has not conceded nine times.
How good the 30-year-old is was particularly evident in the first leg, when VfL failed several times against the German goalkeeper.
Berger is only in one international match, but her good performances have not gone unnoticed by national coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Berger is in the squad for the next internationals on April 10 and 13.
Then the opponents will be Norway and Australia - for the German national players from VfL, including Doorsoun, it will be a reunion with Kerr.
Outlook:
Since the 2012/2013 triple season, VfL has won at least one trophy in every season.
Now the Champions League trophy is no longer possible, and on Easter Sunday there will be a duel against FC Bayern in the DFB Cup semi-finals (2 p.m.).
The Munich women play a top season and lead the Bundesliga ahead of VfL.
In the last year under successful coach Lerch, VfL Wolfsburg is threatened with a season without a title.
