Back
29.04.2018Women

Bayer 04 Women return to Bundesliga after 2-1 win

CK6P1966.jpg

"We're all really happy – it was an emotional roller-coaster today. We've achieved our objective and I'm really proud of my team," declared Bayer 04 coach Verena Hagedorn who also found it difficult to believe the achievement as she joked: "It will take a couple of days for my adrenaline levels to get back to normal." 
 

CK6P1704.jpg

The team coached by Hagedorn only needed one win on the third-last matchday to seal promotion under their own steam and avoid being caught by arch rivals in the promotion race FC Saarbrücken. As so often this season, the Bayer 04 Women made it exciting in the game against SC Freiburg II. "I didn't expect anything else and I know that from our recent matches," smiled Hagedorn. The visitors made the brighter start to the game in the first half and Anna Klink's goal was under threat in the opening minutes. "It'll soon be in the net," thought Hagedorn during that phase of the game. However, her team found the right way of taking control over SC as they gain the upper hand for the rest of the game. A closely fought first half ended with the score at 0-0.

breakaway goal conceded

"In the second half we allowed Freiburg  to mount one or two attacks," said Hagedorn. "We lost the ball too much and then often had to chase it down."  While it was the Black and Reds who pressed forward, the first goal of the game was scored by the visitors in a counter-attack by Vanessa Ziegler on 78 minutes. Leverkusen  hit straight back: One minute later Barba Reger took advantage of open space. She won the ball in midfield, dribbled through unchallenged and slotted the ball into the net to make it 1-1 on 79 minutes.

woodwork in the final minutes

The final minutes were incredibly exciting. Merle Barth could have sealed it with a free-kick from a good position but her effort hit the bar. Shortly after that, a shot from  Louise Ringsing hit the woodwork as did the effort on the rebound with the coaching staff and subs up on their feet.

winner in added time

The long-awaited winner came in added time: Ringsing took the final set piece on 92 minutes - Frederike Kempe leapt into the air to head the ball into the net at the far post – 2-1.
The final whistle was hard to hear amongst the shouts of joy. Kempe was submerged by the celebrating Leverkusen women.
 

CK6P1505.jpg

"simply stunning"

"It was crazy," said Hagedorn in describing the scenes after the end of the game. And the scorer of the winning goal was in seventh heaven after the final whistle: "I don't score very often – and now to get the winner is incredibly cool, simply stunning. We achieved our objective for the season today. It's not been an easy campaign and we've often made it hard for ourselves but we never let our heads drop. It was very tight today but we're all relieved to have been able to secure promotion. The pressure's off - now we can enjoy the last two games."

An official promotion party is planned for the end of the season. "Today the girls are celebrating with each other - and they should do as they've earned it. Now they'll have a few days off," said Hagedorn.
 

CK6P1950.jpg

 
Even though promotion is guaranteed as is third place ahead of the  Hoffenheim and Bayern reserve  teams (not entitled to be promoted) , the season still has to be finished. Next Sunday, 6 May,The newly promoted team take on VfL Sindelfingen Ladies. The game kicks off at 14.00 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Klink - Kempe, Sahlmann (Finestra 46'), Ringsing, Friedrich (Heß 46') - Prinz, Bokanovic, Reger, Barth - Uebach (Wich 78'), Gier

SC Freiburg II: Straub - Karl, Heizler (Boldt 83'), Gutmann, Streng - Hausen, Krüger (Ziegler 76')- Züfle, Eckerle, Müller (Zimmermann 67') - Borges

Goals: 0-1 Ziegler (78'), 1-1 Reger (79'), 2-1 Kempe (90+2')

Booked: Uebach, Streng

Referee: Sina Diekmann (Essen)

Attendance: 152

Related News

Media Visit international
Bayer 04 - 17.10.2025

Latin American Media Visit the BayArena

A group of journalists representing Latin American and Spanish-language media outlets visited the BayArena on Thursday for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Bayer 04 and interviews with key personnel that have driven the team’s brand to new heights internationally over the last few years.

Show more
Landwehr-Cousins
eSports - 17.10.2025

#B04eSports: Six points to start new VBL Club Championship season

The start of the new season of the VBL Club Championship by WOW produced two wins and one defeat for Leverkusen, including a victory against SC Paderborn 07, semi-finalists last season and double winners in 2023/24. The Leverkusen gamers were beaten by 1. FSV Mainz 05, runners-up in the South-East Division last year.

Show more
Katharina Piljic jubelt
Women - 16.10.2025

Piljic scores from centre circle: Women rescue point in replayed derby

Eleven days after the floodlight failure, the Bayer 04 Women rescued a point in the rescheduled Bundesliga derby at 1. FC Köln thanks to a late dream goal from Katharina Piljic. The Werkself drew 2-2 at the Franz Kremer Stadion on Thursday evening. Vanessa Fudalla (76') from the penalty spot and Piljic with a shot from the centre circle (88') gave the Black and Reds a late reprieve. Leverkusen, who are now been unbeaten against their Rhineland neighbours for almost four years, remain fourth in the table with the draw following five consecutive wins.

Show more
DFB-Pokal-Achtelfinale der Frauen
Women - 16.10.2025

DFB Pokal: Women away to Hamburger SV in Round of 16

The date for the Bayer 04 Women's DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie has been set. As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday, the Leverkusen Women will play league rivals Hamburger SV on Sunday, 16 November at 15:00 CET.

Show more