Match Report
Tenth Win in Ten Games: BVB Women Defeat SGS Essen
Lineup
As in previous weeks, coach Markus Högner rotated the lineup for the home game against Essen: Compared to the match at Spoho Cologne, Sara Ito, Jacqueline Meißner, Annika Enderle, and Melanie Schuster were in the starting lineup. Noreen Günnewig, Rita Schumacher, and Lara Schmidt took their places on the bench; Jenske Steenwijk had to sit out due to the flu. Paula Reimann was also still out for the team on Sunday afternoon (Achilles tendon issues).
Match Summary
In autumnal conditions, the Borussia women pressed toward the Essen goal from the start and had their first dangerous shot on goal six minutes in, courtesy of Annika Enderle following a corner kick by Melanie Schuster. Against a well-organized Essen defense, the Black and Yellows created further attacking opportunities—but were initially unable to convert any of them. As early as the 26th minute, Markus Högner was forced to make a substitution: Sara Ito, who had been struck by an opponent’s cleat during a tackle, left the field with a laceration above her right eye; Noreen Günnewig came on in her place. Even before this substitution, the visitors from Essen created a dangerous double chance during a brief numerical advantage.
Striker Ramona Maier kicked off the final quarter-hour of the first half with a long-range shot on the opponent’s goal, which goalkeeper Pia Lucassen was able to safely stop. Since neither Jacqueline Meißner (34th minute) nor Ramona Maier (35th minute) could find the back of the net afterward, it was once again Alex Popp who put the team ahead shortly thereafter: After a precise cross from Annika Enderle, Dortmund’s captain simply had to put her foot out. Thanks in part to several stoppages in play, the 1-0 lead held until the halftime whistle.
At the start of the second half, Markus Högner brought on Rita Schumacher for the booked Jacqueline Meißner. However, it was the SGS that created the first dangerous attacking opportunities: Leonie Kreuz missed two chances to equalize in the 58th minute—Laura van der Laan and the post each prevented a goal. Shortly afterward, on the other end of the field, Ramona Maier squandered a great chance following impressive build-up play by Ricarda Walkling and Rita Schumacher.
In the final 15 minutes, the BVB Women picked up the pace once again, but were mostly thwarted by the visitors’ defense, which remained solid. A header by substitute Ronja Leubner sailed over the crossbar following a Schumacher cross (76th minute). Right up into stoppage time, the 3,083 fans at Rote Erde Stadium watched a match whose suspense stemmed primarily from the home team’s razor-thin lead. Since the Dortmund women’s shots lacked the necessary punch right up until the end, the score remained a narrow 1-0 victory over the 13th-place team in the Regionalliga West.
Looking
Ahead : While the Women’s Regionalliga West takes a break this coming weekend, Markus Högner’s team will face 1. FFC Recklinghausen in the early match of Matchday 13 (Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m., artificial turf field, Walter-Nilius-Sportpark, Steinrapener Weg 80, 45739 Oer-Erkenschwick). Tickets are available at the box office on game day starting at 4:00 p.m. (€5; free admission for children six and under). As usual, Pluto TV will broadcast the match live and free of charge.
BVB Women: van der Laan – Walkling, Maier (Scholz, 89'), Popp (C), Ito (Günnewig, 26'), Meißner (Schumacher, 46'), Ostermeier (Leubner, 66'), Enderle (Schmidt, 66'), Vogel, Kempe, Schuster
Goals: 1-0 Popp (36.)
Robert Targan