Bayer 04 Women lose cup tie at the BayArena 2-1

Compared with the 2-1 defeat in the Google Pixel Bundesliga, de Pauw made two changes to his line-up: As in the first two cup matches, Charlotte Voll played in goal in place of Friederike Repohl with Selina Ostermeier in central defence instead of Sylwia Matysik. Janou Levels was back squad for the first time since November after suffering with a hip problem for months.

early lead for visitors

"A clash on equal terms", said CEO Fernando Carro on TV before kick-off. And then it was time for a cup tie in a special setting. The first good move in front of 3,500 spectators at BayArena was made by the hosts: Kristin Kögel hit a corner from the right into the goalmouth but the Essen keeper Winkler punched the ball out of the danger area (2').

A few minutes later, SGS Essen opened the scoring with their first well executed attack. Selina Ostermeier unwittingly deflected a cross from the right, Emilie Bragstad’s defensive header fell too short. And the Essen centre-forward, Ramona Maier executed a scissor-kick from five metres out that flew into the top left corner of the Bayer 04 goal (8').The strike had the effect breaking the rhythm of the Leverkusen team. The visitors remained on the front foot and posed a constant threat. As when Natasha Kowalski made a solo run down the right flank, then cut inside leaving several opponents standing before hitting the ball just past the right-hand upright (20').

Aggressive SGS double leAd

The team led by coach Robert de Pauw lacked precision in the opening stages. SGS were more aggressive and ambitious, winning more challenges. As on 33 minutes when Maier won out against Bragstad. Her cross found Laureta Elmazi but the Bayer 04 keeper Charlotte Voll was able to make the save. Elmazi netted the rebound to make it 2-0. The next blow for the hosts who were unable to provide a goal threat with efforts from Lilla Turanyi (31’), Elisa Senß (37’) and Kristin Kögel (45’).

"We were unfortunately too nervous in the opening stages, never really challenged and conceded two unfortunate goals. After a couple of changes, we were finally at it and were able to pull a goal back. Unfortunately it was not enough in the end," said de Pauw: "The team gave their all but the win for Essen was not undeserved. It was great to see so many people here who came to support us."

Bayer 04 were rarely able to produce a controlled build-up due to the high press from SGS. The visitors were clearly on top in the first half. "Essen played the cup tie and we didn't get going," said Thomas Eichin, director of professional teams, at half-time. "There was a lack of grit and willingness to run so that we had to move up a gear in the second half."

Robert de Pauw reacted by making a double substitution at half-time. Verena Wieder and Janou Levels came on in place of Nikola Karczewska and Selina Ostermeier.

Verena Wieder mit dem Anschluss

And the change quickly paid off. There was a fast direct attack after winning the ball in midfield. Loreen Bender passed to Levels on the left and her whipped-in cross was met by Verena Wieder who scored from close range (56'). Now it was 2-1. And the crowd at the BayArena was right behind the team. Just six minutes later, Elisa Senß broke through into the Essen penalty area but her attempted shot was blocked (62'). The de Pauw team now applied more pressure and challenged with greater determination.

But SGS again and again posed a threat up front with the Bayer 04 defence defending with great commitment and fortune. Now it was the predicted clash on equal terms.  Jaqueline Meißner raced away for SGS but she put her shot just wide of the right-hand post (75’). Shortly after that, the ball was again in the back of the Leverkusen net but Maier was offside in the move (77').

Robert de Pauw brought on Julie Jorde to replace Kristin Kögel. Jorde thus made her debut for Bayer 04. Then came the closing stages that saw the Bayer 04 Women again provide maximum effort. The only chance was a blocked shot from Elisa Senß (88'). The Black and Reds played much better in the second half. At the end of the day, there were no clear-cut chances for the equaliser. The game ended in a 2-1 victory for SGS Essen.

sunday IN FREIBURG

The Bayer 04 Women are back in action on Sunday, 10 March on Bundesliga Matchday 15. The Black and Reds, currently sixth in the table, are away to seventh-placed SC Freiburg at the Dreisamstadion with the kick-off at 18.30 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Voll - Turányi, Bragstad, Ostermeier (Levels 46’) - Skinnes Hansen, Senß, Zdebel, Kögel - Vilhjálmsdóttir, Bender (Gonzalez 89’) - Karczewska (Wieder 46’)

SGS Essen: Winkler – Sterner, Meißner, Pucks, Ostermeier – Rieke (Pfluger 87’), Piljic – Purtscheller (Berentzen 73’/Enderle 81’), Kowalski, Elmazi (Potsi 88’) - Maier

Goals: 0-1 Maier (8’), 0-2 Elmazi (33’), 1-2 Wieder (56’)

Yellow cards: Piljic

Referee: Katrin Rafalski (Gudensberg)

Attendance: 3,500 at the BayArena