AS Roma stood firm to draw 1-1 with Wolfsburg in the UEFA Women’s Champions League on Wednesday night after goals from Valentina Giacinti and Ewa Pajor in Latina.
Roma stunned Wolfsburg in just the third minute when Giacinti opened the scoring. Emilie Haavi showed brilliant persistence on the left to try and get a shot away which was blocked and fell to the feet of Giacinti. The number nine instictively fored a low shot into the bottom corner and Roma immediately had something to protect.
Wolfsburg begin to show their quality
It took until the 33rd minute for Roma’s resolute defence to be broken as Pajor got the better of Elena Linari one-on-one and made her way into the box before finishing perfectly into the top right corner past Emma Lind.
Roma struggled to get a hold of the ball for a while after the equaliser and came close to conceding again. The likes of Andressa Alves and Giada Greggi continued to try and create for the Giallorosse but Wolfsburg appeared up to the test.
The second half began with Wolfsburg looking very dangerous in the final third and Pajor’s smart finish seemed to have given the German side the lead, but the flag was raised for offside.
The game quickly settled into a very clear pattern as Wolsburg created a string of half-chances and Roma occasionally flurried forward on the break only to see the move break down. It felt like only the Germans would be getting a winning goal.
After wave after wave of Wolfsburg attacks, Roma went extremely close to taking the lead again. Some great work from Annamaria Serturini let Manuela Giugliano get a shot away from the edge of the box which was tipped past the post by Merle Frohms.
The chance breathed some fresh life into Roma as their attacks started taking them further up the pitch and Wolfsburg were forced to start committing professional fouls in the midfield.
Roma finished the game the stronger of the two sides but could not find a winner.
AS Roma show strength against prolific Wolfsburg
It was a supremely impressive defensive display from Roma in the second half and indeed the whole game. Wolfsburg have averaged over three goals a game in the Bundesliga this season and sit four points clear at the top of the table.
Their build-up play was very good in Latina but the defence of Elisa Bartoli, Elena Linari, Carina Wenninger and Moeka Minami stood firm and didn’t allow the game to become a rout, as so many teams fail to do against Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg stay top of the group due to their superior goal difference but Roma are level with them on seven points after three games in their first-ever UWCL campaign.
