Bayer 04 Women fail to take chances in Frankfurt defeat

“It’s really annoying for us to lose this game. It was a high-tempo match from both sides. You could see there was a lot on the line and a draw would’ve been fair in the end. We had good chances to equalise,” said Pätzold. “It was an open affair in the first half with plenty of action in front of goal, including two efforts off the woodwork from us. We were closer to taking the lead in the first half than Frankfurt. Both teams pressed high and transitioned with quality. But we had to put our necks on the like to keep a clean sheet. In the second half, we lacked quality with our shooting in the final third. And as so often in tight games, it came down to a set piece. We risked more after that, allowing a team with Frankfurt’s quality more dangerous moments.”

Pätzold made two changes from the side that beat Nürnberg 4-0 at home. Former Eintracht player Carlotta Wamser returned from suspension and Loreen Bender came into the team for Julia Mickenhagen and Ruby Grant. Rafaela Borggräfe was in the squad days after her arrival from Liverpool. Cornelia Kramer, Lilla Turanyi and Ida Daedelow were also back on the bench.

Lively opening period

Both teams were energetic from the start and looked to get forward. The first shot came from the Werkself and Kristin Kögel in the sixth minute but went right of goal. Bundesliga top scorer Vanessa Fudalla later curled a corner onto the crossbar. The visitors had slightly more of the ball and had the next opportunity through ex-Frankfurt midfielder Bender as her powerful right-footed slow skimmed over the bar.

After a promising opening quarter of an hour, things started to even out. Fudalla had the best chance of the game so far, but she put her shot against the right post after Bender’s flick. Wamser’s long-range follow-up was also cleared.

Borggräfe called into action

Leverkusen had the next chance as well when Caroline Kehrer tried to knock the ball past goalkeeper Lina Altenburg. She was again called into action to deny Wamser’s long-range hit. At the other end, Friederike Repohl had to make a close stop against Geraldine Reuteler but twisted her right knee in the process. After a lengthy break for treatment, the captain tried to continue but had to go off soon, with Borggräfe making her Werkself debut just before half-time. Six minutes into additional time, Frankfurt’s keeper had to claw a Fudalla free-kick away from the top corner as it remained goalless.

Pätzold had to make another change at the break as Mickenhagen replaced Estrella Merino Gonzalez, but it was Eintracht who made the better start to the second period and who went ahead after 10 minutes, Rebecka Blomqvist tapping in a free-kick that wasn’t cleared in the box.

The Werkself looked for an immediate response but failed to carve out much more, as Frankfurt sat back and waited to counter. They nearly made one count when Laura Freigang put wide as Borggräfe raced off her line. The Frankfurt captain had two more chances to put the game to bed on the break in added time, as it remained 1-0 for the hosts.

Derby to come

The Werkself are next in action on Carnival Friday as they host Köln in the derby at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion (18:30 CET). Pätzold’s team then welcome Hoffenheim the following Sunday, 22 February (14:00).

Match stats:

Frankfurt: Altenburg - Riesen, Doorsoun, Oestenstad, Lührßen - Senß - Reuteler (Chiba 81'), Freigang, Memeti - Blomqvist (Gräwe 73'), Anyomi (Teulings 87')

Bayer 04: Repohl (Borggräfe 43') - Merino Gonzalez (Mickenhagen 46'), Wenger, Ostermeier, Wamser - Piljic, Vidal - Bender (Mädl 72'), Kögel - Kehrer, Fudalla

Goals: 1-0 Blomqvist (56')

Yellow cards: -

Referee: Angelika Söder

Attendance: 2,700 at the Stadion am Brentanobad