Union Women Beat Andernach 2-0

The women’s team of 1. FC Union Berlin won 2-0 at SG 99 Andernach on matchday 4 of the 2. Bundesliga. Pia Metzker gave Union the lead shortly before the break, capping a fighting first half performance. The guests continued to dominate the game throughout the second half, before Korina Janez finally decided things in the 82nd minute.

1. FC Union Berlin: Bösl – Markou (74. Trojahn), Becker, Steinert – Sakar, Frank (63. Janez), Moraitou, Heiseler (88. Blaschka), Metzker (46. Weiß) – Abu Sabbah (46. Halverkamps), D. Orschmann

SG 99 Andernach: Van der Laan – Engels, Müller, Schumacher (71. Hisenaj), Krump – Wäschenbach (80. Reifenberg), Schermuly, Kossmann (80. Klyta), Pfeiffer (80. Schulz) – Stöhr, Hornberg (63. Collas)

Personnel: Head coach Ailien Poese made two changes to the starting line-up after the home win against SV 67 Weinberg. Eleni Markou, returned to the back three after serving her suspension, while Celine Frank started in place of Antonia Halverkamps and Korina Janez.

Spectators: 335

Goals: 0-1 Metzker (45‘), 0-2 Janez (82’)

Metzker cracks the defence just before half-time

At Stadion Andernach, Union controlled the game from the beginning, making their first foray into the opposition penalty area in only the fourth minute of the match when a long ball from Fatma Sakar, out right, reached Dina Orschmann, who managed to get past her first opponent but was stopped just before she could finish in the box. Union’s number 11 then had the first chance of the game in the 17th minute, but her attempt from an acute angle flew wide.

Union had most of the ball, but Andernach were deep, compact and defended with a certain intensity, leaving Union few chances to get in behind them. In the 25th minute, however, Pia Metzker and Dina Orschmann linked up, the two players combining with a quick one-two into the penalty area, where Metzker ultimately failed to get enough weight behind the ball with her weaker left foot, allowing the goalkeeper Laura van der Laan to make a save.

At the other end, Leonie Wäschenbach had brilliant chance in the 31st minute, but her shot from 25 yrads out fizzed just wide of Cara Bösl’s goal.

However, Union’s was not long in coming. Once again, a one-two – this time between Sarah Abu Sabbah and Lisa Heiseler – outwitted the opposing defence, allowing the latter to squeeze off a shot on goal. Van der Laan was unable to hold on to the effort, allowing Sakar to get another shot away from near the edge of the box, but the ball struck the post, coming back off the unwitting keeper’s back and out of play. It was the best chance of the game so far.

The subsequent corner found Eleni Markou in the six-yard box, but her header flew over the crossbar.

Union were now the noticeably stronger side and – just as last week against Weinberg – were finally rewarded just before the half-time whistle. As the defence stepped up, Orschmann slipped Metzker through. She did better with her left foot than she had 20 minutes earlier, as the full-back placed the ball precisely inside the corner of the back post to give Union a goal advantage at the break.

Janez makes the difference

Union came out after half time with the bit between their teeth, and they looked keen to add a second goal quickly, especially when they pressed relentlessly into the opposition’s set-pieces, giving them no respite or time to hold the ball. It was a tactic which almost paid off in the 49th minute.

Celine Frank intercepted a long pass from van der Laan in midfield and headed it straight to the freshly substituted Antonia Halverkamps, who thumped the ball against the crossbar from 25 yards first time.

The fresh legs of Halverkamps caused panic in the Andernach backline and she was at the centre of things again just two minutes later when she fired in another shot from distance, but van der Laan saved well, this time. Just two minutes later, the keeper had to stretch herself again when Sakar shot after a corner was initially blocked, but the goalkeeper put it out for another corner. Union pushed on, striving for the second goal, but it still wouldn’t come.

Then, in the 68th minute, Union would almost come to rue the failure to take their chances. Kathrin Schermuly played a ball into the path of attacker Leonie Stöhr, who found herself free in front of Cara Bösl in the penalty area. However, the Union’s keeper spread herself, stayed on her feet and came out better from the one-on-one. Union – now warned – hit back.

In the 70th minute, Halverkamps found herself open at the back post following a corner, but failed to connect properly. Seven minutes later, Dina Orschmann beat several opponents and roared into the penalty area, but was unable to find Halverkamps while under pressure.

In the 82nd minute, however, their second finally came, and it was through substitute, Korina Janez. After winning the ball in the opposition penalty area, Orschmann played it into the path of Halverkamps, who unselfishly then laid it off to Janez, now in front of van der Laan, who only had to roll the ball over the line for a 2-0 lead.

It was more than deserved, and the deciding factor in the match, as Union left nothing to chance in the final minutes to secure their third consecutive competitive win.

Comments on the game

“I’m very happy,” said goalscorer, Pia Metzker, after the final whistle. “We are still unbeaten. It wasn’t the prettiest game today, but we implemented our game plan and scored the goals when needed so that we can now go home with three points.”

“There are games in which you don’t necessarily play beautifully and skilfully. But they’re part of the season and it’s important for us to accept this battle,” was head coach Ailien Poese’s assessment of the win. “We discussed solutions against our opponents beforehand and it’s nice that the first goal was scored in exactly the same way. In the end, it’s three points and a 2-0 win – that’s what it comes down to.”