Bayer 04 Women reduced to ten in 2-1 win at Union Berlin

A total of ten players were unavailable to Pätzold in Berlin due to injury or illness. Goalkeeper Friederike Repohl and Cornelia Kramer (both muscular problems), Loreen Bender, Valentina Mädl, Sofie Zdebel, Ida Daedelow and Amy Wrigge (all ill) as well as Vanessa Haim (muscle-tendon injury), Charlotte Voll  (shoulder injury) and Shen Menglu (rehab training after torn cruciate) did not travel to the capital. As a result, the coach made a total of six changes to the starting XI compared to the line-up in the 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich in December. Repohl, Claudia Wenger, Zdebel, Bender, Kögel and Kramer were replaced by Anne Moll, Selina Ostermeier, Julia Mickenhagen, Ruby Grant, Carlotta Wamser and Fudalla. The two U23 players Emilia Eltgen and Alisa Sinani also made their Bundesliga squad debuts and centre-back Lilla Turanyi wore the captain's armband for the first time.

Union on front foot

Shortly after the referee Dr Riem Hussein started the match, the first referee to be in charge of 150 Women’s Bundesliga games, the Werkself defence was under pressure for the first time. Estrella Merino Gonzalez cleared off the line from a corner (2’). Union kept up the pressure and earned a total of four corners in the opening minutes. At the other end, Mickenhagen fired in a first shot from distance (13'). The visitors began to work their way into the game and shifted play into the Berlin side's half.

After half an hour, Katharina Piljic finished off her solo run through midfield with a shot saved by FCU goalkeeper Cara Bösl. Four minutes later, Fudalla picked out the unmarked Grant with great vision. The midfielder's shot was blocked by Amber Tysiak - it was the best chance of the match so far. Union struck against the run of play. First, Samantha Steuerald's header from a free-kick from midfield hit the post, and shortly afterwards the hosts' fifth corner brought the opener at 1-0 when captain Lisa Heiseler's corner sailed over Moll and onto the head of Dina Orschmann, who nodded the ball into an empty net (36'). Two minutes before half-time, Juliette Vidal was suddenly completely unmarked in front of goal after a free-kick from Fudalla, but Bösl made the save with her foot. The teams went into the half-time break with the scoreline at 1-0.

committed Werkself press for leveller

Shortly after the restart, Eileen Campbell missed the chance to make it 2-0 and then a shot from Fudalla at the other end was misplaced (51'). The visitors worked hard to equalise, but struggled to create any clear-cut chances. Half an hour before the end, Bösl prevented Piljic from making it 1-1 by keeping out a powerful long-range effort. Caroline Kehrer was only centimetres away from the onrushing Bösl after a precise pass from Fudalla (66'). Two minutes later, the Bayer 04 Women were down to ten. Grant, who had already been cautioned, stretched her leg too high in a duel with Campbell and caught the Berlin player at head height - Hussein showed a second yellow card and Grant was sent off. Pätzold then made two changes. Kögel and Wenger came on for Kehrer and Ostermeier.

A little later, Melissa Friedrich (for Vidal) also came into the game to force an equaliser despite being a player down. It finally happened on 78 minutes: Fudalla converted a free-kick from a central position just outside the penalty area (78'), her ninth goal of the season. In a wild final phase, both teams looked for the winner. Moll was on hand to save Campbell's weak shot from close range (85'). Instead, Leverkusen struck late on. After an individual effort from the tireless Fudalla, substitute Kögel was in the right place in the centre and slotted home to make it 2-1 (90+2’). Shortly before the final whistle, Coskun made her Bundesliga debut and enjoyed her final seconds on the pitch.

coming up: home game against FC Nürnberg

The Werkself are back in action in eight days' time with their first home game of the new year against second-placed FC Nürnberg. Tickets for the match on Saturday 31 January (12:00 CET) at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium are available HERE.

Match stats:

Union Berlin: Bösl - Weiß (Eurlings 46’), Heikkinen, Steuerwald, Tysiak - Halverkamps, Pawollek (Hipp 67’), Heiseler (Kamber 67’), Orschmann (Bauereisen 67’) - Weidauer, Campbell

Bayer 04: Moll - Merino Gonzalez, Ostermeier, Turanyi (Wenger 69’), Mickenhagen - Piljic, Vidal (Friedrich 73’) - Grant, Wamser - Kehrer (Kögel 69’), Fudalla (90.+5 Coskun 90+5’)

Goals: 1-0 Orschmann, 1-1 Fudalla (78’), 1-2 Kögel (90+2’)

Red card: Grant (68', two yellows)

Yellow cards: Campbell, Hipp - Wamser

Referee: Dr Riem Hussein (Bad Harzburg)

Attendance: 6,076 at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei