It's pretty quiet out here at this time.

The Title in Sight for Union's Women

9-0 Win Over Magdeburg

Sun, 05. May 2024
The Title in Sight for Union's Women

1. FC Union Berlin's women's team beat Magdeburger FFC, 9-0, in the 19th game of their Regionalliga Nordost season. Naika Reissner put Union ahead after just two minutes before Lisa Heiseler and Sarah Abu Sabbah extended the lead to 3-0 before the break. Union then scored four goals in 13 minutes  through Celine Frank's brace, Abu Sabbah's hattrick, Heiseler's second,  and Dina Orschmann.

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner - K. Orschmann, Becker (72. Schulz), Niesler - D. Orschmann, Blaschka (60. Rurack), Frank (72. Görsdorf), Moraitou, Reissner (46. Bach) - Abu Sabbah, Heiseler (82. Scheel)

Magdeburger FFC: Rudloff - Temp, Y. Schulz, Seidler (72. Rumpf), Neumann, A. Schulz (60. Münch) - Steiger, Große, Hildebrand - Magas (82. Conrad), Abraham (60. Karl)

Goals: 0-1 Reissner (2'), 0-2 Heiseler (17'), 0-3 Abu Sabbah (44'), 0-4 Heiseler (48'), 0-5 Frank (50'), 0-6 Frank (55'), 0-7 Abu Sabbah (58'), 0-8 Abu Sabbah (73'), 0-9 D. Orschmann (85')

Spectators: 111

Reissner scores early - Heiseler and Abu Sabbah join the fun

This Union side are not to be stopped. It took just 100 seconds for Union to take the lead in the Heinrich-Germer-Stadion in Magdeburg, as the Köpenickers combined through on the right before the ball was played flat into the penalty area, where Naika Reissner sprinted in at the back post to roll the the ball into the goal from close range.

But their dominance of this league has not come solely through their attacking capabiltities. It was only five minutes later that a brilliant intervention from  Melanie Wagner and Katja Orschmann prevented a quick equaliser as Magdeburg striker and top-scorer, Neele Abraham, running onto a through ball, stormed towards Wagner alone.

Union's stopper was initially able to parry in a one-on-one, before the ball then landed right back at the feet of Abraham, who only had to nudge the ball into the empty goal from 15 yards, but at the last moment Orschmann intervened with a sliding tackle, clearing with a wonderful lunge.

Union weren't to let that happen again, however, and they then took control of the game again, making it 2-0 in the 17th minute. First, Sarah Abu Sabbah shot from the left of the penalty area,  but goalkeeper Florentine Rudloff saved it with her foot. However, Union were remorseless, and Reissner headed on to Lisa Heiseler, who extended the lead with a volley.

Reissner, never far from the heart of the action, then saw her shot from the left crash into the crossbar. Union had their next chance in the 33rd minute when Abu Sabbah flicked the ball over the crossbar from the edge of the box. Dina Orschmann's shot flew just as close over the bar with only five minutes of the half to play.

But Union would make it three before the half was up. Running onto a pass into the penalty area, Dina Orschmann crossed for Abu Sabbah, whose header was matched by Rudloff's fingertips, but it wasn't enough. The ball flew over the line to make it 3-0 at the break. 

Four goals in 13 minutes. Union devastate their hosts

Union came out strongly, increasing their lead to 4-0 only three minutes after the break. A cross from Dina Orschmann reached Heiseler, who headed home her second goal from inside the six-yard box with ease. The next followed just two minutes later when Celine Frank, released from her role as a centre-half the last couple of weeks - appeared in front of goal and slotted the ball past the keeper.

Frank was enjoying herself, and struck again just five minutes later, after Rudloff deflected an Athansia Moraitou free-kick over the crossbar in the 54th minute. But the keeper had no chance against Frank a minute later when she latched onto a pass from Abu Sabbah and skilfully lobbed the ball over the keeper to make it half a dozen for Union.

The scoring continued in the 58th minute when Abu Sabbah received a pass as she slipped behind Magedburg's tiring defence and lobbed the ball over Rudloff from 25 yards into the net. She would complete her hat-trick shortly afterwards, as a blocked shot from Heiseler landed at her feet - a gift! - that she stroked home. Dina Orschmann, never one to miss out when the goals are raining down, scored Union's ninth in the 85th minute follwoinga pinpoint cross from a Latoya Bach returning from injury.

Ailien Poese, never one to rest on her laurels, was happy with the win. 

"That was a totally confident performance today," she said. "We did what we set out to do. We took an early lead, ran the ball and were able to improve, especially in the second half, which we haven't always been able to do in recent games. So I'm completely satisfied".

Union are on the brink of the Championship. After 19 games they remain undefeated, are top of the table without having dropped so much as a point, and are nine points clear of FC Viktoria 1899 with three matchdays to go.

They can clinch the title next Sunday, with a win at 1. FC Turbine Potsdam II. And who would bet against them?