Sarai Linder struck in the fifth minute of added time as Wolfsburg rallied from two goals down at home to draw 2-2 with Juventus in the Women's Champions League playoffs on Thursday.
Manchester United took a big step toward the quarterfinals after a 3-0 win at Atletico Madrid.
If that tie looks all but decided, it remains in the balance for Wolfsburg and Juventus. Linder ensured it was all square ahead of next week’s second leg in Turin when firing an equalizer into the top corner from the edge of the area deep into added time.
“It feels like a win to get the draw in the last minute,” said Wolfsburg coach Stephan Lerch.
Juventus went 2-0 up just after the hour mark at the AOK Stadion. Ana Capeta opened the scoring in the sixth and Amalie Vangsgaard doubled the lead in the 61st.
But Wolfsburg rallied going into the final 10 minutes of regulation time.
Janina Minge sparked the fightback when converting from the penalty spot in the 82nd.
As the clock ticked down it looked like Juventus would hold a slender lead going into the second leg, until Linder struck.
“We were playing well but we didn’t really create many big chances. At the end, we deserved the draw and now next week it’s still open,” Wolfsburg's Lineth Beerensteyn said.
United takes a healthy lead back to Manchester after a dominant win in Spain.
It took just three minutes for Elisabeth Terland to give United the lead after collecting Melvine Malard's through ball and firing home.
Malard made it 2-0 in the 39th with a curling shot.
Malard then turned provider again for Julia Zigiotti Olme to convert with a powerful effort.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Wolfsburg's Janina Minge takes a penalty during a women's Champions League soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Juventus FC, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Wolfsburg's Sarai Linder holds the player of the match award following a women's Champions League soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Juventus FC, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Wolfsburg's Sarai Linder right celebrates a goal during a women's Champions League soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Juventus FC, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jack Hughes held the ball in his hands, occasionally tossing his latest souvenir in the air.
Hughes had done “Saturday Night Live” and cherished the chance to chat with Lorne Michaels, then appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” as part of the victory lap for the U.S. Olympic gold medal-winning men’s and women’s hockey teams. It only got better Friday when Hughes and women's goaltender Aerin Frankel threw out ceremonial first pitches at Yankee Stadium prior to the New York Yankees' home opener against the Miami Marlins.
“I knew a lot of things were coming, but this was the one thing I was always like wishing-slash-hoping for,” Hughes said. "Just so much fun. For both of us, it’s unreal."
Hughes scored in overtime in the men's final at the Milan Cortina Games, a few days after Frankel backstopped the women's team to also beating Canada for gold. It's the first time the U.S. has won double gold in the sport at the Olympics, and the sled hockey team made it a clean sweep at the Paralympics.
Frankel said her life hasn't changed much since other than seeing the impact the physical gold medal has on people who had never seen one before.
“It’s cool to see how special that is for them,” said Frankel, who plays for the PHWL's Boston Fleet. “We’ve been super busy jumping back into pro seasons and stuff and making time for really cool opportunities like this.”
Frankel is from Westchester County and grew up in a family of Yankees fans. Hughes has become one over the seven years he has been in the area as the face of the franchise for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
Hughes played some baseball growing up but needed to get his right, throwing arm warmed up.
“We played in Dallas last week and my trainer ‘Frosty’ (Chris Scoppetto) brought gloves and I threw like 50 pitches right before morning skate,” Hughes said. “My shoulder was so sore, so I was like, ‘We’ve got to cool it.'”
Hughes' shoulder was fine. He scored twice that night against the Stars and had a five-point game Thursday night on the eve of his big baseball day.
Outside Dallas at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, U.S. Olympic teammate and Stars No. 1 goalie Jake Oettinger was set to also throw out the first pitch Friday afternoon prior to the Rangers' home opener. Oettinger was one of two players on the team not to get into a game in Milan and joked he's “fresh as a daisy” with the playoffs fast approaching.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes looks on during batting practice before his ceremonial first pitch for the home-opener baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes practices ahead of his first pitch before a home-opener baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
