The Werkself Women’s head coach was disappointed with the “dropped points.” Achim Feifel continued: “We were the dominant team for much of the game and we should have made more of certain situations. We were just not effective enough in the final third.”
His team set about the game with aggression and focus, again and again creating good chances after winning possession and were quick in transition. However, the Black and Reds often failed with the final ball. There was a lack of accuracy from crosses and when breaking through from the middle – as with the first attempts on 2’, 5’ and 7’ minutes. Milena Nikolic hesitated slightly and her pass went behind her teammate.
The ball did end up in the back of the Essen net on the half-hour mark but Dora Zeller’s strike did not count; referee Franziska Wildfeuer had already blown for offside – a very tight decision. Just before half-time, Bayer 04 pressed for the opening goal but a quickly taken free kick on 41 minutes ended with the shot hitting an opponent in front of goal and the danger was cleared. And Nikolic failed to find the target with a header from a corner with the unmarked Juliane Wirtz in an even better position behind her. The first 45 ended all square at 0-0.
In the second half, Essen moves broke down in their own half but the efforts from Leverkusen posed little threat. SGS were livelier between 60 and 70 minutes, pushing Bayer 04 back into their own half and they had chances from set-pieces. The Leverkusen defence with Anna Klink in goal were able to deal with the situations. Viktoria Pinther and Verena Wieder replaced Sandra Jessen and Ivana Rudelic on 78 minutes – for summer signing Wieder it was not only the first appearance for Bayer 04 but also her first game since her cruciate injury in December 2019. Just before the end of the match on 89 minutes, Zeller passed the ball into the middle for Nikolic who shot just wide of the target. The game ended in a goalless draw.
“In one or the other situations, we just lacked that bit of luck today. My team gave their all right to the end – with a competitive spirit and passion shown today and I’m happy with that,” said Feifel.
The Bayer 04 Women are fifth in the table on eleven points. League action returns in three weeks when Leverkusen entertain TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday 8 November (14.00 CET). Before that, after the international break, there is the second round cup derby away to FC Köln on 1 November (18.00 CET).
Match stats:
SGS Essen: Johannes – Räcke, Klasen, Senß, Baijings – Ostermeier, Anyomi, Feldkamp, Lange (Nesse 68’) – Markou (Laurier 71’) , Wamser
Bayer 04: Klink – Kerschowski, Marti, Turanyi, Brüggemann – Wich, Wirtz, Zeller, Jessen (Wieder 78’) – Nikolic, Rudelic (Pinther 78’)
Goals: –
Booked: Markou, Senß, Klasen / Rudelic, Nikolic
Referee: Franziska Wildfeuer (Lübeck)
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