The women’s team of 1. FC Union Berlin achieved their third victory in the third friendly of their summer preparations, running out 7-0 winner over Türkiyemspor. Lisa Heiseler (34‘) and Fatma Sakar (44’) gave the team a 2-0 half-time lead at the Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz in Adlershof. After the break, Korina Janez (61′), Sarah Abu Sabbah (65′) and Zita Rurack (83′) increased the lead before Celine Frank scored a brace to make it 7-0 (86′, 88′).
1. FC Union Berlin: Hornschuch – Schulz, Niesler, Rurack – Sakar (63. Metzker), Blaschka (63. Moraitou), Frank (46. K. Orschmann) Heiseler (63. Frank), Metzker (46. Steinert) – Halverkamps (12. Janez (63. Abu Sabbah)), Reissner (63. Trojahn)
Türkiyemspor: Gündogdu – Mohamad, Almasalme (54. Asiderova), Laue (33. Pflanz), Sambondaoky – Kulick, Neuwald, Beyaztepe, Loredo Ahoki (46. Ochmann) – Pinkney (46. Alloush), Schwedler
Personnel: Head coach Ailien Poese was still without Maria Cristina Lange and Anna Weiß against Türkiyemspor.
Goals: 1-0 Heiseler (34‘), 2-0 Sakar (44’), 3-0 Janez (61‘), 4-0 Abu Sabbah (65’), 5-0 Rurack (83‘), 6-0 Frank (86’), 7-0 Frank (88′)
Attendance: 160
Heiseler gives Union the lead – Sakar adds a dream goal
Against Türkiyemspor, new signing Antonia Halverkamps, who had missed the first two games of pre-season, made her first appearance for Union, slotting straight into the starting eleven. Unfortunately, however, the number 29 had to be substituted after just twelve minutes due to injury.
In sporting terms, Union had their first major chance after 16 minutes through Naika Reissner. The striker ran at the goalkeeper at great speed, but then narrowly missed the goal. Reissner was repeatedly sought out throughout the first half and caused the Türkiyemspor defence major problems with her speed. The 19-year-old had her next opportunity in the 18th minute after another long pass, but failed to beat the keeper. Reissner was also involved in the next chance when she crossed for Lisa Heiseler in the penalty area, but Türkiyemspor goalkeeper Kevser Gündogdu made a strong one-on-one save with one hand (25′). A minute later, Pia Metzker narrowly missed the ball after a high ball from Anouk Blaschka.
Although Türkiyemspor remained robust and focused defensively, Union had more and more chances to score during this phase of the game. In the 28th minute, a corner was followed by three shots from the hosts, but the shots from Reissner, Zita Rurack and Heiseler were all blocked.
The spell was broken in the 34th minute. Celine Frank crossed for Heiseler in the penalty area, who coolly put the ball past the keeper from ten meters. Reissner could have made it 2-0 just a few seconds later, but Gündogdu once again won the duel in goal. The keeper was also on hand to save Blaschka’s shot in the 40th minute.
However, the keeper was powerless to stop Fatma Sakar’s dream goal in the 44th minute. following a corner, the full-back came out from the back and fired the ball accurately under the crossbar from 20 metres. The half-time score could have been even higher, but Reissner once again failed to beat the goalkeeper in the 45th minute and in stoppage time, Janez was also denied by a foot save from the Türkiyemspor number one.
Five goals in the second half: Union win 7-0
The Unionerinnen had the first major chance to score after 15 minutes of the second half. Anouk Blaschka headed in a cross from Lisa Heiseler, but Kevser Gündogdu was on hand to save (59′). Two minutes later, however, the ball was in the net. A cross from the left-hand side reached Korina Janez in the penalty area, who skilfully took the ball and slotted it into the net (61′).
The chances began to pile up again for the Red & Whites and just a minute later, Blaschka had the ball at her feet in front of goal, but the midfielder first failed to beat the goalkeeper before another shot over the crossbar from eight metres (62′).
The next goal came very soon after though. Substitute Sarah Abu Sabbah needed just two minutes on the pitch to add her name to the scoresheet. Sophie Trojahn dribbled into the penalty area and unselfishly crossed for Abu Sabbah in front of goal, who only had to push the ball over the line.
In the 74th minute, Gündogdu once again stood out. The keeper deflected Athanasia Moraitou’s shot from 16 metres over the crossbar with her fingertips. The subsequent corner was also dangerous, but Katja Orschmann aimed just over the box from ten meters. In the final minutes, however, the Union team turned up the heat again with three goals. Firstly, Zita Rurack flicked a free-kick from 20 metres into the corner in the 83rd minute. Three minutes later, Celine Frank also got on the scoresheet with a shot from the back after a quick combination (86′). The midfielder also made the final score 7-0 in the 88th minute when she once again fired the ball into the corner.
Comments on the game
‘Once again, we played against an opponent who got really deep at the back. We didn’t find many creative solutions in the first half. We talked about that during the break and then got into it better. Overall, it certainly wasn’t our strongest performance, but at the end of the day it’s a 7:0 win and we’ll take a few things from it,’ said head coach Ailien Poese, summarising the match.
‘We were a bit sluggish at the start, but we ran the ball well. However, there was still room for improvement in terms of capitalising on our chances, but we did better at the end of the first half and in the second half,’ explained double winger Celine Frank.
Next steps
Next Saturday, 3 August, the official season opener will take place at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. The Eisernen Ladies will face Bundesliga side SV Werder Bremen at 13:00. The men’s team will then face Olympique Lyon at 17:00. The stadium opens its gates at 12:00. Tickets for the double matchday are on sale. There will also be a box office on match day.