Semi-final exit: Women lose 3-1 to SGS Essen

The visitors were first out of the blocks: With just three minutes on the clock, the former Leverkusen player Ramona Petzelberger received the ball from Nicole Anyomi in the penalty area and she took the chance to give SGS the lead. Essen retained the upper hand and created more goalscoring opportunities: The Bayer 04 keeper Anna Wellmann saved a shot from Turid Knaak (25’), a long-range effort from Lea Schüller missed the target (30’). Just after the half-hour mark, Wellmann prevented a bigger deficit: From a corner, Marina Hegering had a chance from close range but the Bayer 04 shot-stopper made an impressive reaction save. However, she had to pick the ball out of her net just before half-time: After winning possession in midfield, Jana Feldkamp beat several Bayer 04 defenders before scoring to make it 2-0 (42’). The Werkself Women posed little threat to the opposition goal in the first half.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t press the opposition as we intended to. We wanted to get the opponents wrapped up in challenges early as we did against Hoffenheim. But we were too hesitant and also too deep so the opposition were able to play the their game,” Feifel said in summing up the first half.

Barth scores from spot

Essen remained on the front foot at the start of the second 45 and created the first chance. Schüller was suddenly in a one-on-one with Wellmann but was unable to threaten the goal (47’). Bayer 04 were awarded a penalty ten minutes later: Hegering handled the ball in the box. Barth converted the spot-kick to make it 2-1 (56’). SGS almost succeeded in restoring the two-goal lead almost immediately: Schüller’s shot was tipped onto the post by Wellmann (59’). Bayer 04 had more of the game in the closing stages and were able to create several chances. A header by substitute Milena Nikolic from a corner but the Essen keeper Johannes was able to make the save (78’). With five minutes to play, the unmarked Ivana Rudelic had a chance but she put her effort wide of the target (85’). The Feifel team threw caution to the wind in the closing stages. Essen’s Schüller scored their third goal in added time (90 +3’). 

“In the second half, my team cannot accuse themselves of not having tried everything in their power. It’s incredibly difficult to come back from 2-0 against an opponent so strong on the break. Nevertheless, we tried everything, were able to pull one goal back and had the chance to level. The game could have turned round at the end. We have to build on the second-half performance in the next game,” Feifel said.

Next opponents Potsdam

SGS Essen will play VfL Wolfsburg in the DFB Cup final. The team from Lower Saxony beat Arminia Bielefeld 5-0 in the second half. Bayer 04 are in action on Sunday during matchday 19 in the FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga with a home game against Turbine Potsdam. The kick-off at Kurtekotten is at 14.00 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Wellmann – Sahlmann (Kempe 46’), Barth, Wirtz, Jessen – Wich (Vinken 80’), Reger – Uebach (Kerschowski 75’), Csiszar, Zeller (Nikolic 64’) - Rudelic
SGS Essen: Johannes – Klasen, Brüggemann, Hegering, Ostermeier – Feldkamp, Senß (Wilde 78’) – Knaak, Petzelberger (Oberdorf 66’), Anyomi - Schüller
Goals: 0-1 Petzelberger (3’), 0-2 Feldkamp (42’), 1-2 Barth (pen. 56’), 1-3 Schüller (90 +3’)
Booked: Zeller, Uebach, Wich - /
Referee: Fabienne Michel (Gau-Odernheim)