Back in September, Union beat SGS Essen, 2-0, a game that will forever be remembered not for Lena Ostermeier’s own goal, or even for Sophie Weidauer’s first competitive goal since joining from Werder Bremen during the Summer, a shot that rocketed into the roof of the net as Union battered the Bundesliga stalwarts during the latter stages of the first half. No, it will remain as Union’s first ever win in the Bundesliga.

And, as such, it seemed to herald such great portents and golden futures. Soon enough, they would come back to earth with a bang, as the injury list reached critical mass, and as chances were spurned and luck turned a blind eye against sides they could have beaten, and the established powers of the league brushed them aside like younger siblings.

It had been a steep learning curve, continued by last week’s tough-to-take loss at home to Leverkusen, a fine side that Union had in the palm of their hand for much of the game. SGS, meanwhile, had improved. This game saw them only six points apart; the guests in 10^th, the hosts in 13^th. And as they found themselves here, 2-0 down with half time looming ominously, who knows what their thoughts were.

But one of the factors that had seen their rise to win the 2. Liga had been Union’s unwillingness to concede defeat. Here, all that spirit, all that fightsuddenly bubbled back  to the fore.

But, still, maybe it was to be expected that Essen would start off nervily, with keeper, Kim Sindermann, almost playing Dina Orschmann in with the slackest of passes out with barely a minute played. But it was the host’s Shari van belle who would have the first shot, at the other end. Capping a quick break she had instigated, the Essen striker volleyed in the direction of the Union goal but never got enough on the ball to trouble Cara Bösl.

This was, however, an outlier, and Union controlled the opening phases countering, just as quickly, with Anna Weiß playing a fine Crossfield ball long into the path of Eileen Campbell, who would also  almost finish it off when her header  was turned  away before it went either inside the back post,  or fell at the  feet of the looming Orschmann.

Lia Kamber and Hannah Eurlings, making their first starts for Union, were making an impression already, the former’s clever movement in midfield and sharp pass onwards almost setting up a chance for the latter. When Laureta Elmazi was down hurt, Weiß chatted with Kamber; the experienced Unioner and the new. Orschmann, the talisman of the promotion years, had led the pre-match speech in the group huddle, and here she was keen too to set an example. Tirelessly she worked the inside right channel, bobbing and weaving her way into the box after 12 minutes, only to see her cross snuffed out as quickly as it had been delivered.

But for as long as the game remained goalless, Essen seemed to grow more courageous. Bösl held van Belle’s inswinging corner before it could sneak in under the bar; Weiß tackled the same player as clean as a whistle out  on Union’s right shortly after. Paulina Platner did well to tackle Orschmann, when another of Sindermann’s passes out fell too short.

Essen continued to try their luck, however and Tysiak was booked with 25 minutes gone, pulling back on Ramona Maier as she turned towards goal, having just about got the beating of the former west ham player. Maier then rushed Weiß off the ball on the other side, winning a throw in, but more importantly showing a signal. She wound her arms on the direction of the crowd, trying to gee them up.

The home crowd were never going to out-sing the travelling Union fans, however, away in their corner, but they were fearful, suddenly, when van belle cut inside, her cross an inch away from the despairing lunge of Maier as she threw herself at the ball. Then the captain, found Ostermeier who shot over.

It seemed the opener was coming, and after 36 minutes Platner shot from 25 yards, getting a good contact, but more importantly seeing her shot bounce awkwardly in front of the diving Bösl. Union’s keeper could do little about it. Essen were in the lead, and it was far from undeserved.

They were flying, and Vanessa Fürst put wide from the left, just seconds after the re-start, when she should maybe have at least made Bösl make a save.

Union should, however, have drawn level with 41 minutes played, but for a superb Sindermann save, sticking out a reflexive left-hand to claw Campbell’s goal bound header away to safety.

But before the half was up, it was 2-0 for Essen. This time it came from a throw-in, headed backwards by a reaching Tysiak into the path of Maier who ultimately thrashed her shot across and past Bösl.

But when all seemed done and dusted for the half, Lisa Heeiseler, nipped in behind Maier as Union countered through Campbell. She poked the ball home, and grabbed it out of the net, never breaking her stride, charging back to the centre-circle. There wasn’t time for a re-start this time. It was the last touch of the half, but how important a touch it was.

 

Ailien Poese made no changes at the break, and Union burst into life, the game now  opening immediately. First up Sindermann made a wonderful stop from Heiseler – set up by Eurlings – whose shot first time was tipped over the bar.

Then Campbell made it 2-2. Orschmann took a corner from the right, the ball causing chaos in the box as it fell, but try as they might to clear the danger, the SGS defence couldn’t get it past the Austrian international. Falling at knee height, she caught it on the volley, hitting it hard and rising into the net, a shot of anger, and she barely celebrated as her team-mates thronged her. They all returned their focus onto the game at hand immediately.

But, the game now swinging this way and that, Bösl made the next fine stop only two minutes after that, dropping to her right as Essen suddenly countered. She did even better after 57 minutes as she sprung to hold the ball following another corner, this time as three Essen players swarmed around her, all looking to try and get a final touch that would have re-taken the lead.

Having made a vital tackle on van Belle with the hour almost up and Essen suddenly on the front foot with four players attacking three, Ida Heikkinen was taken off for Naika Reissner. Poese was trying to stem the waves of attacks coming back her side’s way, trying to shift the momentum back.

It worked. Reissner was immediately onto the front foot, beating Jaqueline Meißner on the left through sheer pace and determination, crossing from the byline to Campbell who caught it on the half-volley. Though Sindermann got down to the ball, she couldn’t stop it dribbling over the line.

Union looked more composed after that, Poese consolidating when she took off Weiß and Eurlings for Katja Orschmann and Nele Bauereisen, the former needing treatment almost immediately when caught by Sindermann as they went at the same time for the next steepling Reissner cross from the left.

Heiseler held her head in her hands after 82 minutes, having been perfectly placed to reach Campbell’s pinpoint, low cross from the right, but with the keeper taken out of the picture, and the defence all at sea, the captain fell of balance as she shot, dragging her effort just wide of the left-hand post. Last season’s highest scorer in the 2. Liga couldn’t believe it.

Dina Orschmann would be replaced by Antonia Halverkamps, and there would be the longest of seven added minutes to play, especially as the indefatigable Maier looked to  win a free-kick off Reissner with the time almost gone.

But finally, with the last kick of the game, Halverkamps crossed for Kamber to plant a header past Sindermann. The whistle came before they had a chance to re-spot the ball, and the players could breathe again, their gap over Essen back to  a healthy nine points. Worries? Not a bit of it.