Sixth win in nine games: Women beat Turbine Potsdam

Pätzold fielded the same starting line-up as in the 2-1 derby win away to FC Köln nine days ago. The coach was missing from the dugout after being sent off in added time in the derby. He did see his team make a dream start: The Turbine keeper Vanessa Fischer was unable to clear a corner from Loreen Bender and Kögel succeeded in heading the ball over Fischer into the net for an early lead on four minutes. That was her fourth goal of the season. The Black and Reds continued to dominate the game against a Potsdam side sitting back looking to prevent conceding a second goal. Kögel went close to doubling the lead with a long-range effort (11'). Kramer made no mistake two minutes later. Bender intercepted the ball from an error in build-up play and was through on Fischer. She set up Kramer for a tap-in (13').

commanding lead

Potsdam exploited the first slip in defence by the home side with a chance to pull a goal back almost immediately after conceding. Caroline Krawczyk hit a volley in the penalty area just over the bar of the goal minded by Friederike Repohl (14’). The hosts maintained the upper hand even though Potsdam launched more attacks. Nevertheless, the next big chance fell to the favourites: After quick transition play, Kögel sent the ball through to the double provider Bender but the 19-year-old was denied by an impressive reflex save by Fischer (28'). Up to half-time, there was no danger in front of either goal with Repohl tested just once by a long-range effort from Kim Schneider (45').

There were no changes for the Werkself at half-time. A Kögel corner found the head of Kramer but her shot was blocked (52'). Shortly after that there was a triple substitution for the Bayer 04 Women: Shen Menglu, Bender and Caroline Kehrer made way for Estrella Merino Gonzalez, Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir and Delice Boboy (59’). Two minutes later and the scoreline was 3-0: This time Janou Levels hit a corner from the right and Turanyi was in the right place to head the ball through Fischer's legs (62').

Substitute Vilhjalmsdottir then just missed out on scoring her first goal of the season. The volley from the Icelander from a Kögel cross hit Fischer's hand and then the post (67'). Central defender Selina Ostermeier was also substituted shortly after that with Emilie Bragstad coming on in her place. Leverkusen remained dominant in this phase of the game as they forced back the visitors who have yet to score in the Bundesliga this season. 

Not much happened in the closing stages of the game. The Bayer 04 Women were not troubled holding onto their lead. For the last few minutes, Juliette Vidal was brought on in place of Levels (81'). The Werkself created several chances down the wings in search of the fourth goal but the scoreline did not change.

trip to Leipzig

The Werkself travel to Saxony next Saturday to play RB Leipzig on Sunday, 17. November (kick-off: 18.30 CET). That game is followed the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie against Turbine Potsdam again at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Friday, 22 November (18.00 CET). Tickets for the game are available HERE from the Bayer 04 online ticket shop.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Repohl - Menglu (Merino Gonzalez 59’), Ostermeier (Bragstad 67’), Turanyi, Levels (Vidal 81’) - Zdebel, Piljic - Bender (Vilhjalmsdottir 59’), Kögel - Kramer, Kehrer (Boboy 59’)

Turbine Potsdam: Fischer - Schmid, Lüscher (Dommasch 34’), Cramer, Kuznezov (Grosicka 77’), Vianden - Hahn, Ito, Krawczyk - Schneider (Selimhodzic 46’), Limani (Grincenco 59’)

Goals: 1-0 Kögel (4’), 2-0 Kramer (13’), 3-0 Turanyi (62’)

Yellow cards: Kehrer - Cramer, Vianden

Referee: Selina Menzel (Stutensee)

Attendance: 633 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium