Slavia Prague v VfL Wolfsburg – Day 45

Central European Cup Semifinal #2
SLAVIA PRAGUE 1-3 WOLFSBURG: Visitors reach first final

Wolfsburg reached the first ever cup final in the club’s history after battling from a goal down to see off Slavia Prague in the Central European Cup semifinals.

Both teams had never reached any final before, and here was a chance for either club to set the record straight. And it was the hosts who settled the quickest in cold conditions as they took an early lead. Mollet’s cross took a deflection but fell kindly for Von Tunzelmann, who displayed admirable composure to sidefoot a placed finish past Noth for the left-winger’s 11th goal of the season.

The visitors reacted well to the early setback and patiently probed for an equaliser. Miller was inches away from making contact with Ciumak’s cross, and minutes later from a similar crossing position, Monteiro was relieved to see his wild clearance loop a matter of inches over his team’s crossbar. Wolfsburg’s best chance of the first period fell to Mochowak, but his snapshot from ten yards out was parried by Carnevale and Tucman hooked clear the rebound to maintain his side’s slender lead.

Wolfsburg continued to apply the pressure in the second-half, with Haller forcing Carnevale into a smart stop at his near post. But ten minutes into the second-half and the Slavia Prague defence finally buckled. Hendrickson’s superb pass sliced open the backline, allowing Mochowak to stride through and tuck a finish into the bottom corner with consummate ease. Two minutes later and the turnaround was complete, Miller pouncing on a defensive mix-up to send a blistering effort past the stranded goalkeeper.

The goals further opened up what was already an entertaining fixture as Slavia Prague were forced to attack. Ivic flicked his header wide from Rosario’s cross, and then the hosts missed their chance to draw level as Ivic latched onto Buslingthorpe’s pass, but with only Noth to beat could only send a tame effort into the goalkeeper’s grateful arms. The visitors only took a few minutes to make him regret the miss as they pulled two goals clear. A lightning-quick break saw Miller burst down the pitch and release Hendrickson, who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted into the empty net from a tight angle to seal the victory.

They could have had a fourth if Savcyhn’s shot was not palmed clear by Carnevale, but three was enough as the estatic visitors celebrated their passage to their first cup final.

Attendance 21,000

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