UEFA Women's Europa Cup: She-Wolves record big win over Sturm Graz
| Svenja Huth | Pau Barrena/Getty Images |
Four first-half goals helped VfL Wolfsburg to a commanding 6-1 victory over Sturm Graz in the first leg of the UEFA Women's Europa Cup second round qualifying tie. Six different players were on the scoresheet for She-Wolves.
After their first Frauen-Bundesliga defeat of the season in Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg scored twice inside the first 15 minutes. Ella Peddemors opened the scoring with a cheeky free-kick before assisting Lara Prasnikar’s goal from close range.
Youngster Smilla Vallotto and veteran Svenja Hüth added more goals before the half-time break. Stephan Lerch made triple changes for the start of the second-half as Wolfsburg were already thinking about their trip to 2. Bundesliga side SC Sand in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
The Austrian Frauen-Bundesliga leaders took advantage as Brigitta Pulins, who scored braces in her last two appearances, pulled one back with a clinical finish. However, substitutes Katharina Piljić and Lena Lattwein extended Wolfsburg’s lead with further goals in the last ten minutes.
Sturm Graz will have to reverse the five-goal margin next week in order to stop the former giants from reaching the Round of 16. The two-time Champions League winners are one of the favorites to lift the second edition of UEFA Women's Europa Cup.
