Borussia Dortmund have prematurely crowned themselves winter champions of Frauen Bezirksliga 4. Sulewski's charges won 4-1 (2-0) away to SV Herbern on Matchday 12 thanks to strikes from Ana Louisa Zabell, Mia Macarena Bedarf and Virginia Glänzer, plus an own goal.

"We're happy we've won," said coach Thomas Sulewski in summary of the match. The Dortmund ladies made use of their strength from set-pieces against their fifth-placed opponents from Herbern to extend their unbeaten run – despite a mediocre performance.

Sulewski made three changes to the starting XI from the previous week: Denise Pörteners started in place of the injured Hanna Hentrich at full-back, while Kimberly Becker came in for Luisa Bergmann (bench) in holding midfield and Annika Billig replaced Vanessa Kuhl (bench) on the left of midfield.

The Borussia ladies made an ideal start. Following a corner-kick, Ana Louisa Zabell was on hand to fire home a low shot via the inside of the post (5). The goal came on what was a milestone appearance for Zabell, who along with Kimberly Becker became the first Borussia women's player to play 50 games in a BVB shirt.

The Aschenberg outfit appeared unperturbed, brazenly held their own and created the odd chance themselves. But it was the Black & Yellows that scored the second goal. Mia Macarena Bedarf leapt decisively to meet Ann-Katrin Lau's cross and make it 2-0 (32).

Directly before the break, Herbern had a big opportunity to make it 2-1 from the spot. However, BVB goalkeeper Sandra Schröer saved a penalty from Annika Vogel that she herself had given away. "I'm unbelievably happy to be able to help the team and to be there when I need to be there," said Schröer, who saved a penalty for the first time in the history of the BVB women's team.

But four minutes before the interval, the Dortmund No. 1 was powerless to prevent Ida Jaspert from pulling a goal back for the hosts – Herbern's reward for a courageous performance. However, the league leaders from Dortmund hit back with the right response. The Black & Yellows were again first to the second ball following a set-piece and Virginia Glänzer put the ball in the net for 3-1 (53). But re-establishing their two-goal cushion did not give BVB a sense of security. "We were never really in the game. The opponent demanded everything from us," Sulewski said.

Herbern created good opportunities to pull another goal back in the second period. And Jule Pawlas did eventually score – though her header went into her own net and ended the game as a contest (84). "It was a very hard-fought victory. We had that little bit more luck in the end," said keeper Schröer in summary.

With 33 points from 11 matches, the Borussia ladies remain the undisputed league leaders and boast a nine-point lead over second-placed TuS Germania Lohauserholz. Even though their closest challengers have a game in hand, the win in Herbern means that the Black & Yellows have confirmed themselves as winter champions already.

PSV Bork will be the visitors to Dortmund in the final game of the first half-season on 27 November. But next up for the Borussia Dortmund women's team is their Westfalenpokal round of 16 tie against Landesliga side SV Hohenlimburg, who will travel to the BVB Evonik Football Academy on Thursday 17 November (20:30 CET). "We will need to show a different side to ourselves compared to today; otherwise, we won't win a thing," BVB coach Sulewski added.

BVB women: Schröer – Klemann, Jung, Glänzer, Pörteners (Rechenbach, 50) – Becker – Lau (Auffenberg, 75), Zabell, Bedarf (Rogge-Herper, 50), Billig (Kuhl, 60) – Reinhardt (Goosmann, 85)

Goals: 0-1 Zabell (5), 0-2 Bedarf (32), 1-2 Jaspert (49), 1-3 Glänzer (53), 1-4 Pawlas own goal (84)

Noteworthy incidents: Schröer saves penalty from Vogel (45)  

(df)