"It was an intense match and hard work, Czarni were the tough opponents we expected. They have a very impressive first half of the season behind them and they play in a very direct and straightforward manner. We had to overcome a lot of difficult phases," said coach Roberto Pätzold: "That makes me more happy with the result and all the goals we scored. Both teams played with a high tempo. That made it a very good test for us against a physically strong opponent after all the tough training sessions." Pätzold also thanked the hosts: "Congratulations on the club anniversary, 100 years represents a great tradition," said Pätzold: "We are very grateful the way we've been treated here and also that we have found top conditions at our training camp. The match was a successful highlight."
In the first match in Poland after the four sessions in the first three days at the training camp, coach Roberto Pätzold chose to play Friederike Repohl in goal. Synne Skinnes Hansen, Emilie Bragstad, Lilla Turányi and Julia Mickenhagen formed the back four. Sofie Zdebel and Katharina Piljić played in defensive, Loreen Bender and Kristin Kögel in attacking midfield. The forward duo consisted of Merino Gonzalez and Kehrer, the second summer signing in the starting line-up in addition to Piljić.
The Bayer 04 Women played in their new home kit and made an energetic start to the game. Against KKS, who played their first league match on 11 August, the team under today's captain Kögel could not find a way through the opposition defence in the first 15 minutes. At the other end, Turányi cleared a dangerous cross from the hosts playing in white (13').
Piljić put the first shot from the Black and Reds wide of the target three minutes later. Shortly after that, a header from Merino Gonzalez was kept out by the opposition keeper. Kehrer did better: The striker signed from SC Braga headed an accurate long-range cross from Skinnes Hansen into the right corner of the net (24’). The lead gave the visitors confidence in build-up play and the hosts were more and more pushed back. The KKS keeper prevented a second goal when she saved from Kögel with her feet (28’).
The Poles rarely posed a threat up front: A promising Czarni counter-attack was frustrated by a timely intervention from Bragstad (34'). In a swift response, Bender was denied after an impressive dribble and Gonzalez was also blocked off. The visitors doubled the lead at 2-0 with the last move before half-time: Kehrer first headed a Kögel corner onto the bar but Gonzalez was on hand to put the rebound into the back of the net (45+2').
The Werkself made ten changes at half-time with only Bragstad remaining on the pitch. And the new line-up proved to be successful straightaway: A corner from Julie Jorde found Vilhjálmsdóttir who put a looping header into the net (47'). Four minutes later, Boboy rounded off a counter-attack with an assist from Cornelia Kramer to score the fourth goal for the Werkself. KKS attacked shortly after that but Anne Moll was on her toes to keep out a long-range effort.
Just one minute later Ida Daedelow went within inches of making it 5-0. Klaudia Miłek then scored a consolation goal (65') to make it 4-1. Haim, who had just come on to replace Daedelow, restored the previous lead with Kramer providing her second assist of the day (78') - 5-1 was the final scoreline.
The Bayer 04 Women will continue to prepare for the new season in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga in Katowice up to next Monday. Before flying back, there are still five training sessions plus a range of team activities on the agenda. Three other friendly fixtures await after returning from Poland: First away to Anderlecht on 11 August, then away to Standard Liege on 17 August and at home to Fortuna Sittard on 23 August. The new Bundesliga season starts on 31 August (kick-off: 14.00 CEST) with the match away to SC Freiburg. The Werkself then play in the second round of the DFB Pokal week later with the opponents to be confirmed.
The full summer schedule for the Women's team is HERE.
Match stats:
Bayer 04, First half: Repohl - Skinnes Hansen, Bragstad, Turányi, Mickenhagen - Zdebel, Piljić - Bender, Kögel - Merino Gonzalez, Kehrer
Bayer 04, Second half: Moll - Shen, Bragstad (Turányi 73’), Ostermeier, Levels - Jorde, Vidal - Vilhjálmsdóttir, Daedelow (Haim 73’) - Boboy (Kaiser 81’), Kramer
Czarni Sosnowiec: Matysa - Horvathova, Kurzawa, Buszewska, Chudzik - Grzywińska, Miksone, Witek, Flis - Mitek, Kaletka
Goals: 0-1 Kehrer (24’), 0-2 Merino Gonzalez (45+2’), 0-3 Vilhjálmsdóttir (47’), 0-4 Boboy (51’), 1-4 Miłek (65’), 1-5 Haim (78’)
Referee: Mariusz Grząba (Sosnowiec)
Attendance: 2,147 at the Arcelormittal Park Sosnowiec
Bosnia U19 international Kerim Alajbegovic is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth set-up to Red Bull Salzburg. The talented attacking midfielder has signed a long-term contract with the Austrian club. At the same time, the works club secured a buy-back option for the 17-year-old, who was one of the mainstays of the Leverkusen U19s.
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