The visitors made the better start to the game and were able to take the lead with the first chance of the match: Marie-Therese Höbinger broke through into the penalty area and slotted the ball into the net to put Turbine 1-0 up (5’). Potsdam remained on top but were rarely able to create further goalscoring opportunities. Just after the half-hour mark, Dora Zeller held Klara Cahynove as she dribbled into the Bayer 04 penalty area – referee Sina Diekmann awarded a penalty and Johanna Elsig converted to double the lead for Potsdam (28’). Bayer 04 pressed forward in search of a goal to get back into the game and were able to threaten the opposition goal but Milena Nikolic was unable to score (39’, 40’). At the other end, the visitors were clinical – and they increased the lead through Höbinger (44’) and Sophie Weidauer (45+1’) before half-time.
“If you’re 4-0 down at half-time then you can’t sugar-coat it. We weren’t able to compete in the first half. We weren’t able to put pressure on the ball and we gave Potsdam far too much space. We were always one step behind and too passive in crucial situations,” said Feifel in assessing his team’s first half performance.
Feifel reacted by making three changes at the break: Henrike Sahlmann, Pauline Machtens and Ann-Kathrin Vinken replaced Jessica Wich, Isabel Kerschowski and Milena Nikolic. But little changed in the course of the game and Potsdam were able to go 5-0 up with the first chance in the second 45: Anna Mesjasz was through in the box and left Klink without a chance with a header (47’). Shortly after that, Zeller rewarded the attacking efforts of the Leverkusen women: From a long ball, the Hungary international beat two opponents and curled her shot into the net at the far past – 1-5 (54’). The pace of the game increasingly eased off and Potsdam did not concede any clear-cut chances.
“In the dressing room, we decided to do all we could to stand up to them. We wanted to make amends for the score at half time. And, of course, it’s a real blow when the fifth goal goes in two minutes after the restart,” declared Feifel.
The next double-fixture week for Bayer 04 is here: The Black and Reds are away to bottom-of-the-table FF USV Jena on Wednesday. A win against the team from Thüringia would bring the Werkself Women three important points in the battle against relegation. “The game won’t be easy. Jena have nothing to lose and can play with freedom. We have to win this game to stay in the league,” said Feifel in setting out the approach to the game.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Klink – Barth, Wirtz, Jessen, Kerschowski (Sahlmann 46’) – Wich (Vinken 46’), Uebach (Rackow 57’), Csiszar, Zeller – Rudelic (Reger 71’), Nikolic (Machtens 46’)
Turbine Potsdam: Mersnik – Mesjasz, Elsig, Schmidt (Dieckmann 58’), Zadrazil (Lindner 74’) – Graf, Höbinger (Rohde 85’), Cahynova, Schwalm (Bahnemann 85’) – Weidauer, Ehegötz (Chmielinski 46’)
Goals: 0-1 Höbinger (5’), 0-2 Elsig (28’ pen.), 0-3 Höbinger (44’), 0-4 Weidauer (45+1’), 0-5 Mesjasz (47’), 1-5 Zeller (54’)
Booked: Wich / -
Referee: Sina Diekmann (Dortmund)
Calling all Bayer 04 fans: The Werkself will play Pisa SC, newly promoted to Serie A, at the BayArena as part of the season opener. The clash with the club from Tuscany is on Tuesday, 5 August with the kick-off at 18:00 CET. Entrance to the stadium with a wide range of entertainment provided is possible from 15:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales for the season opener.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen have signed the 17-year-old forward Dustin Buck. The Germany youth international joins from the youth set-up at FC Augsburg. The technically gifted and fast attacker will strengthen the Werkself U19 squad.
Show moreSeveral Bayer 04 Legends, Bayer executives, club officials, current defender Arthur and, of course, dozens of enthusiastic children turned out on Saturday on the south side of Sao Paulo for the official opening of the Bayer 04 Football Academy, located at Club Bayer on the campus of Bayer Brazil.
Show moreA great night for 'Calle': Bayer 04 new signing Carlotta Wamser helped Germany to an opening win in the Women's Euro in Switzerland with an impressive performance. After coming on as a substitute in the 2-0 victory over Poland in Group C, the winger provided an assist and helped set up the second goal. The 21-year-old earned great praise from her coach and teammates in her first tournament match.
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