Third victory in three games: Women win 2-1

The Bayer 04 women quickly got into the game, moved the ball well and focused on maintaining discipline. The first chance on goal for the Black and Reds fell to Madeline Gier on eight minutes. She tried her luck, failed to find the back of the net but succeeded in forcing a corner.

"After a good start we tried to avoid making any mistakes. The opposition pressed us and that unsettled us a bit," said Hagedorn. That led to the opponents proving dangerous in front of goal as on 39 minutes when Caroline Asteroth unleashed a shot. However, it was Henrietta Csiszar who scored the first goal of the game. During added time in the first half, the Bayer 04 Women won a corner and Csiszar converted to make it 1-0.

The two line-ups were unchanged at the restart. The lead was doubled with less than five minutes played. Madeline Gier scored from a free kick for Bayer 04. Hagedorn's team were unsettled after the goal and they struggled to maintain their dominance. "We were a bit nervous in the first ten minutes after the restart. That encouraged our opponents, which was a great shame. Andernach were able to create a number of chances," she said. One of those led to SG 99 pulling a goal back on 63 minutes through Jasmin Stümper. "Unfortunately, we made a mistake that led straight to them scoring."

The scoreline remained unchanged at 2-1. And substitutes Barbara Reger (76'), who replaced the skipper Jessica Wich, and Hanna de Haan, who came on for Lara Heß just before the final whistle and played outfield due to the limited number of subs, were unable to effect the score.

"It was a hard-earned victory," admitted the coach after the game. "Andernach were aggressive and played well. At the end of the day, we earned three important points. The team did well to hold on." Bayer 04 are now second in the table  with nine points from three games behind FC Saarbrücken.

The league now takes a two-week break but the second round tie in the DFB Cup is the weekend after next. The Bayer 04 Women had a bye to the second round and they are at home to record DFB Cup winners FFC Frankfurt. The match at the Kurtekotten Academy is on Sunday 8 October. The kick-off is at 14.00 CET.

Match stats:
Bayer 04: Klink - Kempe, Sahlmann, Meier, Rackow - Gier, Heß (Reger, 76'), Csiszar, Bosnjak - Uebach, Wich (de Haan, 90')

SG 99 Andernach: König - Langenfeld, Schumacher, Zimmermann, Weingarz - Asteroth, Umbach, Krumscheid, I. Stümper - J.Stümper, Sternitzke

Goals: 1-0 Csiszar (45+1'), 2-0 Gier (50'), 2-1 J. Stümper (63')

Booked: Wich, Sternitzke
Referee: Isabel Steinke
Attendance: 201