Union Women Lose 4-3 to Jena

Despite a strong performance, 1. FC Union Berlin’s women’s team were narrowly beaten 4-3 by second division team FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the first friendly of their winter preparation.

Dina Orschmann scores twice – Union lead at the break

On the artificial pitch in Hämmerlingstraße, Unionstarted strongly, and consequently took the lead after only four minutes. Dina Orschmann, who like her sister Katja, was playing her first game for Union since their return to the club of their youth, found herself free in front of the opposing keeper and finished well to make it 1-0.

Union kept the pressure on after that and in the 9th minute Elisa Spolaczyk was certain she’d scored the second goal, but the officials said the centre-forward was slightly offside. Just one minute later, however, the ball was in the net again, and with Union’s second it was clear what quality Union have gained with the transfer of the Orschmann twins.

Katja found Dina with a perfect ball after ten minutes, and Dina wasn’t of a mind to pass up the gift. She scored her second for a 2-0 and barely ten minutes had yet passed.

Jena seemed to be overwhelmed by thewhirling, constant Union and it took a while for them to get into the game. However, Nicole Woldmann made it 2-1 after 20 minutes with a 25 yarder that that flew into the net just under the crossbar. Despite the quality on show – it was an excellent, open game by this point -Union would take their lead into the break at half time.

Jena turn the game on its head in ten minutes

Despite the difference in league standings, Union continued to hold their own against their lofty opponents. The first big chance of the second half came from the visitors through Josephine Bonsu, but her shot was saved well by Union keeper Melanie Wagner with her feet.

And it was at the other end that the next goal would come. A Megan Reichenbachcross found Hannah Kratz in the penalty area, who slotted home to make it 3-1 for Union. Ten minutes later, Elisa Spolaczyk could have finished things when she robbed the Jena keeper following a misplaced pass, but her shot at the deserted goalrolled agonisingly past the post.

Instead, Jena dragged themselves ever more back into the gameas the half wore on. Bonsu scored in the 80th minute, and Jena got another following a corner five minutes later. Heartbreakingly, they scored the winner with the last touch of the game.

Union’s head coach Ailien Poese nevertheless praised her team’s strong performance: “We are absolutely satisfied. We felt confident, even though we lost in the end. We were able to take a lot we’ve worked on from the last few days training, and got a lot of joy from it on the pitch.”

The Outlook

The next test for Union’s women is already scheduled for next Sunday when they play the Bundesliga’s Turbine Potsdam. The six-time German champions and 2010 Champions League winners are currently in last place in the Bundesliga. Kick-off at the Sportforum Waldstadt in Potsdam is at 13:00.