VfL Wolfsburg absolutely *unloaded* on Sturm Graz today, bagging four first-half goals on their way to a commanding 6-1 victory in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Europa Cup second round qualifying tie. This wasn’t just a win, it was a total statement of intent.
Rebounding Hard After Hoffenheim
After taking their first Frauen-Bundesliga defeat of the season against Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg came out *hot*. They scored twice in the first 15 minutes, showing zero signs of a hangover. Ella Peddemors kicked things off with a cheeky free-kick, then immediately set up Lara Prasnikar for a close-range finish. Youngster Smilla Vallotto and veteran Svenja Hüth piled on even more goals before halftime. Seriously, four goals in the first half? Talk about a statement!
No Let-Up, Even With Eyes Elsewhere
Coach Stephan Lerch made three changes to start the second half, clearly thinking about their upcoming DFB-Pokal trip to 2. Bundesliga side SC Sand. And hey, Sturm Graz, who are actually the Austrian Frauen-Bundesliga leaders, tried to capitalize on that lull. Brigitta Pulins, who’s been on fire with braces in her last two appearances, pulled one back with a clinical finish. You thought maybe things were turning? Nope. Wolfsburg’s substitutes, Katharina Piljić and Lena Lattwein, slammed the door shut with two more goals in the last ten minutes. Six different players on the scoresheet says everything you need to know about this team’s depth.
So, what does this mean for the second leg next week? Sturm Graz has to somehow reverse a five-goal deficit if they want to stop these former giants from reaching the Round of 16. Good luck with that, because Wolfsburg just showed the league exactly why these two-time Champions League winners are one of the favorites to take home the whole damn UEFA Women’s Europa Cup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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