The second leg of the Women’s Champions League Round 2 deciders kicked off on Wednesday with a handful of games on the schedule.
Here is who booked their place in the 2024/25 group stage.
Scorer: Blakstad 16′, Tandberg 90+5′
Hammarby knocked last season’s quarter-finalists out of the competition before the group stage even began after a stunning comeback on aggregate (3-2 overall).
The Portuguese side entered the Caixa Futebol Campus with a slim 2-1 advantage, but the visitors struck first in what was the game’s only shot on target over 90 minutes.
Julie Blakstad provided for Hammarby after being given space inside the box. She slammed the ball home into the far right side of the net to turn things 2-2 on aggregate.
The match continued to be a nervy affair, with players tussling and the referee even falling over during the altercations. Benfica, however, failed to immerse themselves in the game and subsequently let it slip away.
The deciding moment arrived in the final seconds when Cathinka Tandberg found the net for a huge upset in Portugal as Hammarby reached the group stage for the first time.
Scorers: Kalma 3′, Endemann 33′, 49′, Brand 77′, Sellner 89′
Thanks to a thumping 7-0 win in the first leg, this game was already decided bar an outlandish comeback from Fiorentina.
And Wolfsburg hit the ground running again inside AOK station, winning 5-0 (12-0 on aggregate) to pile on the misery.
Fenna Kalma opened the scoring after neat footwork in the box allowed her to flick the ball home with a backheel. Lynn Wilms then had a chance to double the lead from the penalty spot, but her attempt hit off the crossbar.
Vivien Endemann later had her say after teeing up the opener. A darting drive officially turned things 2-0 before the break and the German international registered a brace minutes into the restart.
Fortunately for Fiorentina, the actions of goalkeeper Francesca Durante helped keep things down in the second half as the hosts continued to threaten for more.
A fourth and fifth were eventually added in the final frames. Substitutes Jule Brand finished off a silky team move in the box and placed the ball under the crossbar before Tabea Sellner stabbed home a loose ball.
More UWCL action continues on Thursday, with Juventus, PSG, Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid all hitting the pitch.
