Two Werkself players scored crucial goals for their country on Tuesday evening to ensure progress to the next round of World Cup play-offs. Paulina Tomasiak, who had played 88 minutes in Poland’s 1-0 first-leg loss to Belgium, again started the return game in Gdansk and was crucial in the turnaround. Her goal in the 67th minute made it 2-1 on the night to force extra-time, which ended 3-2 before Poland won 4-3 on penalties to progress to the next round of the play-offs.
Club strike partner Maja Sternad also had reason to celebrate. The 23-year-old had missed Slovenia’s 3-3 draw with Türkiye in the first leg but then started in Domzale. After an early red card for the visitors, Sternad’s looping header in the 83rd minute ensured a 2-0 win that takes Slovenia a step closer to qualifying for next summer’s finals in Brazil.
That dream was always going to come to an end for at least one Bayer 04 player, given Lumbardha Misini’s Kosovo faced Claudia Wenger’s Austria. The pair didn’t meet on the pitch, though, with Wenger missing the first leg through injury and then remaining on the bench in the second. Midfielder Misini played all 180 minutes but couldn’t prevent a 2-1 loss at home and then 4-0 defeat in Austria.
It means that Sternad, Tomasiak and Wenger are all into the final round of play-offs, which will be played between 26 November and 5 December. These consist of eight two-legged head-to-head ties, with the seven winners with the best overall ranking from the league phase of qualification qualifying directly for the Women's World Cup. The eighth winner will have to contest the inter-confederation play-offs, entering in the second round’s single-elimination matches in February 2027.
None of that process is of concern to Leverkusen’s four-goal Bundesliga top scorer Cornelia Kramer. With Denmark already qualified for the World Cup, they played two friendly matches in Canada. Kramer played the second half of the first game, which ended 1-1 before a 4-2 loss on penalties. She was an unused substitute in the 4-3 win in Toronto for the second match.
Germany’s U23s produced a win and a draw during the break. Loreen Bender (73 minutes), Estrella Merino Gonzalez and Sofie Zdebel all started the 2-0 victory in Scotland. Only Bender then completed the 0-0 draw against Sweden, with Merino Gonzalez and Zdebel not used.
The NB Vintage Collection is here and available now! Members enjoy an exclusive priority purchase period (online shop only). Non-members will then be able to purchase items from Saturday 17 October (10:00 CEST). Sales will also begin at the same time at the Bayer 04 Fanwelt.
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Intercultural exchange: a youth team from Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, visited Leverkusen in the last few days. The players and staff from AD DUHA FC enjoyed a varied programme including training, a friendly - and a very special experience on Saturday afternoon.
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The new eSports season is just around the corner. The VBL Club Championship by WOW starts on Thursday 15 October (from 18:00 CEST). And, as every year, here’s an overview: What changes are there? What is staying the same?
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Bayer 04 record-appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn invites you to another evening in the popular ‘Rudi lädt ein’ series: on Tuesday 10 November, in collaboration with Bayer AG, the focus will be on the Nazi period. The focus will be on football, Bayer 04 and the city of Leverkusen.
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