“The win was deserved thanks to our hard work. Even if Frankfurt maybe had the better chances overall, we were more clinical,” said head coach Robert de Pauw. “We had some luck at times, and also an excellent goalkeeper. We played some decent football at times. Set pieces are also becoming more of an asset for us.” The Dutchman was particularly pleased by the second half: “We kept our shape and fought, fought, fought. In the end that hard work was rewarded by the second goal.”
De Pauw made one change to his team from the 0-0 draw in Essen as Caroline Siems replaced Synne Skinnes Hansen on the right, who was out with a thigh problem. The game began without any notable chances as both sides focused on safety first. Frankfurt looked to get down the wings and eventually created the first big opportunity in the 10th minute, but Friederike Repohl kept her nerve in the Werkself goal to deny Nicole Anyomi one-on-one after a through ball.
Anyomi again failed to take a chance to put the visitors ahead, knocking the ball wide after getting the better of Emilie Bragstad in a race. Straight up the other end, Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir also missed an opportunity for Bayer 04, who were finding their feet in the game. Siems then saw a shot from the edge of the box saved by Stina Johannes.
With Vilhjalmsdottir unable to continue after a challenge, Bender was introduced after just 33 minutes. Barely 120 seconds later, the 18-year-old found the breakthrough when she stuck out a foot to get on the end of Kristin Kögel’s free-kick from the right to beat Johannes. It was Bender’s first Bundesliga goal and the difference up to the break.
The hosts continued to play on the front foot after the restart and Bender failed to make an attack count when caught between shooting and crossing from right of goal. Anyomi struck the left post shortly after.
De Pauw made a double change after the hour mark as Selina Ostermeier and Karczewska came on for Janou Levels and Estrella Merino Gonzalez. Moments later, Sylwia Matysik missed the chance to double the lead with a header from a Kögel corner. Almost from nowhere, Frankfurt came close to levelling when Lara Prasnikar struck the bar from range.
Paulina Bartz and Julie Jorde provided more fresh legs in the closing quarter of an hour for Matysik and Sofie Zdebel, while the Bayer 04 defence remained solid and dealt with Frankfurt’s long balls. The hard work paid off when Karczewska rounded off a counter-attack to grab a second three minutes beyond the 90.
The Werkself are back in action again next Saturday with an away game at RB Leipzig (6.30pm CEST).
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Repohl - Matysik (Bartz 76'), Bragstad, Turányi - Siems, Senß, Zdebel (Jorde 76'), Levels (Ostermeier 59') - Vilhjálmsdóttir (Bender 33'), Kögel - Merino Gonzalez (Karczewska 59')
Frankfurt: Johannes - Wolter, Doorsoun, Kleinherne, Hanshaw - Reuteler, Gräwe, Dunst (Martinez 75') - I. Acikgöz (Chiba 46') - Anyomi (D. Acikgöz 80'), Prasnikar
Goals: 1-0 Bender (36'), 2-0 Karczewska (90'+3)
Yellow cards: Turányi - I. Acikgöz
Referee: Davina Lutz
Attendance: 910 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion
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