Champions League: Bayern women concede a late 2-2 draw
FC Bayern's women's soccer team squandered a 2:0 lead against AS Roma. The German champions conceded a late equalizer through Manuela Giugliano (90.+1) in a 2:2 (2:0) draw at the start of the Champions League group stage.
Jovana Damnjanovic (20th minute) and Elena Linari (own goal/45.+4) had previously scored for the Munich side. The visitors had made it 1-2 through Evelyne Viens (58') in front of 2,500 fans at the FC Bayern campus before Giugliano made the final score.
In a largely evenly-matched game, the Munich side took the lead through a set-piece. Katharina Naschenweng sent a free-kick cross from halfway into the penalty area, where Bayern captain Glodis Viggosdottir shouldered the ball at the feet of Damnjanovic, who slotted home with ease.
The Romans, spurred on by former Munich players Saki Kumagai and Laura Feiersinger, kept up well but initially missed their better opportunities. That took its revenge. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Naschenweng took a powerful shot and the double deflected ball flew into the net to make it 2:0. Rome's central defender Linari appeared in the statistics as the (own) goalscorer.
Rome press for the equalizer and are rewarded
After the break, Viens' follow-up goal created new tension and Rome pressed for the equalizer. Sydney Lohmann could have calmed the nerves of the FCB fans, but Rome defender Moeka Minami made a sensational save on the line (85'). This time the Romans profited - captain Giugliano shocked Bayern with a follow-up shot.
On November 23, Munich will travel to Paris Saint-Germain, while their third opponent in Group C is Ajax Amsterdam. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals, which Bayern have always reached in the past five seasons.
Eintracht Frankfurt had already won 2:1 at Swedish record champions FC Rosengard on Tuesday. This year's Champions League finalists VfL Wolfsburg were eliminated by Paris FC before the group matches.
FC Bayern Munich's men's team could also compete in the Champions League, potentially facing AS Rome. In a hypothetical match, FC Bayern might look to emulate their women's side's strong start, taking a 2-0 lead through a set-piece, similar to Jovana Damnjanovic's goal against AS Roma.
Despite AS Rome's challenging squad, including former Bayern players Saki Kumagai and Laura Feiersinger, the Italian side might aim for a comeback like their women's team, seeking to equalize and possibly secure a win against FC Bayern Munich.
Source: www.dpa.com
