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1. FC Union Berlin vs Magdeburger FFC

Womens Regionalliga Nordost, 22. Matchday

vs Magdeburger FFC

Womens Regionalliga Nordost, 22. Matchday

Sun., 23. April 2023, 14:00 Uhr
Stadion An der Alten Försterei
4 : 1
150

Women's Winning Streak Continues

Match report

1. FC Union Berlin's women's side continued their impressive Regionalliga Nordost winning streak with a 4-1 win at home against Magdeburger FFC thanks to goals from Zita Rurack, Sophie Trojahn, Lisa Heiseler and Dina Orschmann. It was a hard won victory, having gone into the break a goal down, and one that will have been particularly enjoyable, having suffered their first league defeat of the season in Magdeburg last year.

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner - Wildner, Becker, K. Orschmann, D. Orschmann - Frank, Görsdorf (90. Reichenbach), Heiseler - Youssef (82. Bach), Rurack, Krauss (46. Trojahn)

Magdeburger FFC: Rudloff - Neumann, Münch (82. Träbert), Seidler (82. Nesimi), Steiger (67. Steiger), Krüger, Abraham (67. Alsleben), Temp, Cienskowski, Ellermann, Unzeitig (85. Prigge)

Goals: 0:1 Ellermann (8th), 1:1 Rurack (56th), 2:1 Trojahn (70th), 3:1 Heiseler (75th), 4:1 D. Orschmann (80.)

Attendance: 120

Early shock: Magdeburg lead at half-time

Compared to the 3-0 win in the derby against Türkiyemspor, Union's head coach, Ailien Poese, made a single change to her starting XI from that which began the 3-0 win against Türkiyemspor last weekend, with Lina Krauss coming in instead of the injured Naika Reissner.

Union started strongly, with Lisa heiseler shooting just wide of the target from close range after only four minutes. One minute later, Zita Rurack also squeezed a shot off, but her attempt from the edge of the penalty area also flew just wide.

So, the shock was all the greater when Magdeburg took the lead out of nowhere in the 8th minute. After a misplaced pass at the back, Magdeburg striker, Cora Ellermann, lifted the ball from 35 yards over keeper Melanie Wagner into an empty goal after eight minutes.

Five minutes later, Dina Orschmann had Union's best chance of the first half. But the acting left-back could only only hit the post. Union were struggling to find any gaps in Magdeburg's robust defense, despite having a lot of possession, and it was only shortly before the half-time whistle that they could carve out two further chances. First, Celine Frank shot just past the back post before, one minute later, Zita Rurack headed just wide. 

Union turn the game around

Union continued to dominate the game in the second half, almost scoring through substitute Sophie Trojahn ten minutes after the break, but she hit her shot straight at Magdeburg keeper, Florantine Rudloff. It was however a sign of the turning of the tides, with Union finally scoring only two minutes later. After Nour Youssef won the ball, Zita Rurack marched alone towards the Magdeburg goal and shot the ball past the keeper to make it 1-1.

Union women kept up the pressure, but Magdeburg continued their resolute defiance against the hosts. In the 70th minute, however, Trojahn - who had transformed Union's attacking momentum since coming on - dribbled past several defenders, keeping her nerve in front of goal to make it 2-1.

From there, things only improved for Union. In the 75th minute, the hosts were awarded a free kick about 25 yards out. While everyone was expecting a cross into the penalty area, Lisa Heiseler crashed the ball in under the crossbar with a vicious strike to make it 3-1.

With 10 minutes to pülay, Rurack passed to Dina Orschmann in the penalty area, whose direct finish also found the target. With that, Union's fourth, the game was effectively over. Union had further opportunities, but the score remained at 4-1 at the final whistle.

With 53 points from 22 games, Union remain 2nd in the table behind city rivals Viktoria Berlin (60 points). Third placed Türkiyemspor Berlin are three points behind the Eisern Ladies, but will play their game in hand next weekend. Union, however, still have the much better goal difference.

The coach's views on the game

"Magdeburg were the difficult team we expected, they have a very good counter-attacking game, which ultimately led to their early lead," said a delighted Poese after the final whistle. "They were also very compact and committed defensively. We really had our problems there, but we talked about it at half-time and found solutions. We did an excellent job in the second half and in the end we deserved to win. Of course we are totally relieved about this victory in what was a great game." 

The outlook

The next league match for Union is now in a fortnight's time when, on 7 May 2023, they travel to play FC Carl Zeiss Jena II. The Thuringians currently occupy 6th place in the table.

Before this clash, however, comes the 16th women's family day, which traditionally takes place on 1 May. The highlight of the programme is Union's friendly at the Alte Försterei against 1. FC Köln II. Kick-off is at 14:00. Entry is free. 

Union Looking for Revenge

Match preview

The women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin will host Magdeburger FFC in the 22nd game of the Regionalliga Nordost season. Union will be looking for revenge, having suffered their first league defeat of the season to their guests in November. Kick-off at Dörpfeldstraße is at 2 pm.

The opponents

Magdeburger FFC are currently in 5th after 21 games, with 39 points. Head coach Alexander Auer's team are particularly dangerous up front and, with 56 goals, have the fourth strongest attack in the league behind the three top teams from Berlin.

The 17 year old Melina Krüger is fourth on the list of top-scorers with 15 goals already this season, and her team-mates Cora Ellemann (11 goals) and Neele Abraham (10) (who are also only 17 and 18 years old respectively) are not far behind. They are young and dynamic, and play some very good football, as shown by last weekend's 3-0 win against Bischofswerdaer FV.

For a long time, Magdeburger FFC, who played in the 2. Liga from 2009 to 2015, were one of the top candidates for promotion from the league. And few will forget the thrilling 2017/18 season, when Union and Magdeburg went head-to-head for first place right to the very end. It all culminated as  the two sides met on the last day of the season, with Magdeburg enjoying a two-point lead and only needing a draw to secure first place, but instead Union won 1-0 to overtake their rivals from Saxony-Anhalt on the finishing line.

The head to head

The last fixture in Magdeburg ended in a 4-2 loss for Union in November 2022, Union's first league defeat of the season. After Lina Krauss had given the guests the lead, Magdeburg turned the game on its head, going from 1-0 down to 3-1 up within 13 wild minutes. Immediately after half-time, Hannah Kratz pulled things back to 3-2, but despite their best efforts Union were unable to find a way through. Instead it was Abraham who scored the decisive goal in the final quarter of an hour on a devastating break to make it 4-2.

Due to their long-standing rivalry in the Regionalliga, and the joint season in the 2. Liga in 2014/15 (a season that saw both clubs relegated), the have now met 22 times. Union have by far the better record with 14 victories, Magdeburg have five there have been three draws.

The last encounter at Dörpfeldstraße in May 2022 ended 5-0 for Union.

The coach's views ahead of the game

"Magdeburg were the first team we lost to in the first half of the season to, because they countered very well from a compact defence," said Union's head coach, Ailien Poese in mid-week. "Their team have also further developed, as they have a young squad and have become more flexible in their approach to the game. We are prepared for that and want to redress the balance of the lat match on our own pitch." 

Elisa Schindler, Elisa Spolaczyk, Luca Scheel, Pauline Wimmer and Hannah Kratz are still absent, while Lina Krauss, Dina Orschmann and Naika Reissner's chnaces of playing are also in doubt.

Last match

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