“In the first half, we had a few good chances and allowed only one at the other end, which Bremen unfortunately took. We had to take risks early after the break, had lots of opportunities but weren’t clinical enough. Getting back within a goal gave us hope and we could’ve done it,” said coach Robert de Pauw. “I can’t blame anyone for not fighting, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough in the end. Everyone saw we gave our all.” Looking at the campaign as a whole, the departing Dutchman said: “We made a step up compared to last season and closed the gap to the teams above us. That’s what counts in the end.”
Emotions were running high even before kick-off as de Pauw and his assistant Jessie van den Broek were given a send-off, as well as captain Elisa Senß, Verena Wieder, Caroline Siems, Cecilie Johansen, Clara Fröhlich and Nikola Karczewska as they all move on from Bayer 04 at the end of the season. De Pauw’s final starting XI saw two changes from the 3-1 win at Duisburg as Sofie Zdebel and Estrella Merino Gonzalez came in for Paulina Bartz and Karczewska.
Once things did get under way, the first chance fell to the hosts when Janou Levels fired over from a tight angle on the left. Both teams then cancelled each other out for a while, with most opportunities coming from set pieces. Zdebel had a go from range but missed the target. At the other end, Friederike Repohl held onto an effort on the spin from Tuana Mahmoud.
The two teams continued to focus on remaining solid, with neither the hosts nor the visitors in white taking much risk. With five minutes to go before the break, Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir missed out on the chance to open the scoring after a through ball from Kögel. However, Bremen then struck two minutes before half-time when Repohl parried a long-range effort from Rieke Dieckmann, only for Sophie Weidauer to put away the rebound.
De Pauw made two changes at the break by sending Karczewska and Synne Skinnes Hansen on for Merino Gonzalez and Vilhjálmsdóttir in attack. However, the next goal didn’t come from the reinforcements but from the away side, as Michaela Brandenburg finished at a corner on 51 minutes. Leverkusen found a quick response when Kögel put away a free-kick from the edge of the area only six minutes later. Barely 60 seconds after, though, Werder restored their two-goal advantage when Michelle Ulbrich converted a penalty following a foul by Levels. Sylwia Matysik replaced the departing Siems soon after.
Things were open now, and referee Nadine Westerhoff again pointed to the spot, this time in Bayer 04’s favour after a foul on Karczewska. However, Senß saw her penalty saved by Livia Peng, with Karczewska putting over the rebound. Leverkusen kept on pushing for a way back into the game. Skinnes Hansen came close before things got heated, resulting in referee Westerhoff handing out a number of yellow cards, including a second to de Pauw, who had to watch the final minutes of his last game from the stands.
Bartz and Jorde were later sent on for Loreen Bender and Zdebel. The latter sub made an almost immediate impact as the Norwegian got one back with a thumping effort from range. A diving effort from Peng denied the 20-year-old her brace and an equaliser as the clock hit 90. Bayer 04 poured forward looking for a leveller, including Repohl for a set piece. Senß ended up making a goal-line clearance in the 96th minute to prevent a counter making it 4-2.
With the season now over, Bayer 04’s women have around four weeks off. Some players will also be involved in European qualifiers for their countries in the coming weeks. The first part of pre-season for 2024/25 will begin under new coach Roberto Pätzold on Monday, 17 June.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Repohl - Siems (Matysik 61'), Bragstad, Turányi - Bender (Bartz 78'), Zdebel (Jorde 82'), Senß, Levels- Vilhjálmsdóttir (Skinnes Hansen 46'), Kögel - Estrella Merino Gonzalez (Karczewska 46')
Werder Bremen: Peng - Brandenburg, Ulbrich, Nemeth, Lührßen - Wirtz (Hahn 46') - Wichmann (Sehan 88'), Matheis, Dieckmann (Sternad 67'), Mahmoud (Kunkel 81') - Weidauer
Goals: 0-1 Weidauer (43'), 0-2 Brandenburg (51'), 1-2 Kögel (57'), 1-3 Ulbrich (58', pen.), 2-3 Jorde (87')
Missed penalty: Senß (64')
Red card: de Pauw (75')
Yellow cards: Kögel, Bender, Turányi, Bade, Karczewska - Brandenburg, Dieckmann
Referee: Nadine Westerhoff
Attendance: 1,303 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion
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