1. FC Union Berlin: Böhi (63. Kassen) – Weiß (76. Köster), Georgieva (63. Şakar), Skaara Helgesen (30. Steuerwald), Heikkinen (30. Aagaard (63. Eurlings)) – Hipp (46. Pawollek), Kamber (46. D. Orschmann), Heiseler (46. Moraitou) – Halverkamps (46. Bauereisen), Campbell (46. Weidauer), Reissner (46. Heikkinen)

CD Castellón: Garcia (64. Catalán) – Araque, Ripolles, Tomás – Prades, Suarez (62. Fortuño), Campillo (73. Rodríguez), Lizarraga, Samit (62. Okenve) – Vicente (54. Garcia), March

Goals: 1-0 Heiseler (2.), 2-0 Heiseler (9.), 3-0 Heiseler (18.), 4-0 Campbell (24.), 5-0 Campbell (45+1.), 6-0 D. Orschmann (46.), 7-0 Eurlings (82.), 8-0 Eurlings (89.)

Heiseler Puts Union on the Winning Track – 5-0 Halftime Lead

At the training ground in Oliva Nova, the difference in class between the Spanish fourth division and Berlin's Bundesliga sides was quickly evident. After just two minutes, Lisa Heiseler scored with a header following Anna Weiß's excellent cross. The captain doubled her tally when she showed her skill after a quickly taken corner, finishing into the far corner. By the 18th minute, her hat-trick was complete after Eileen Campbell laid the ball across the goal, allowing her to tap it in.

Campbell got on the scoresheet herself in the 24th minute when her shot from the edge of the penalty area squirmed past the opposing goalkeeper. The two goalscorers combined for the final goal of the first half during stoppage time when Heiseler found Campbell, who headed strongly home to make it 5-0 at the break. 

Eurlings scores double in debut - Emotional Köster comeback

As they had the first, Union started the second half with a goal as well. Alma Aagaard set up Athanasia Moraitou on the left, whose low cross found Nele Bauereisen in the six yard box. She laid it off for Dina Orschmann, who stabbed the ball over the goal line from close range. All four players involved had been substituted in at half time. Union pushed on, butmissed several chances. A newcomer,however, would make up for that.

For in the many debuts and returns, there was much to cheer the Union fans, beside the goals. Forward Hannah Eurlings took to the field for the first time in a red-and-white shirt six months after her move to Union. In the 82nd minute, the Belgian celebrated her first goal with a powerful strike before, shortly after, she made it 8-0. The winter signings Silje Skaara Helgesen, Lia Kamber, and Julia Kassen also celebrated their debuts for Union. Tanja Pawollek returned to the pitch after a two-month break, and Fatma Şakar, who had already been part of the matchday squad in December, played her first match of the season. In the 76th minute, Leonie Köster made her comeback after nearly eleven months of injury layoff and was loudly celebrated by the team.

The reactions to the Match

Debutant Hannah Eurlings stated after the match: “I am very happy right now. It has been six long months for me, but I am just glad to be back. The team has supported me during that time, and I am also pleased that Leo, Tanja, and Fatma were able to be on the pitch today!”

“We discussed some processes in the offense beforehand. I think we can still work on some details after the match. Defensively, there were also one or two situations that we will review later. For the start of the training camp and considering that we were able to distribute a lot of playing time, it was a good test,” said head coach Ailien Poese after the match.