Bayer Leverkusen secured an easy away win at Carl Zeiss Jena in the women’s Bundesliga.
Thanks to the completely deserved 4:2 (2:1) win against the second-to-last team in the table early on Sunday afternoon, the Rhinelanders moved into the top group of the women’s Bundesliga. Three points now separate Leverkusen from second place VfL Wolfsburg.
An own goal from Steffi Schmid (6th) and a goal from Caroline Kehrer (19th) ensured an early two-goal lead. A defensive error brought Jena back into the game through Emily Reske’s goal (41′). But Valentina Mädl (52nd) and Vanessa Fudalla (58th) made things clear after the change. In stoppage time, Noemi Gentile scored the second goal for Jena (90+1).
Minor replaces red-blocked full
Bayer coach Roberto Pätzold made seven changes to his starting eleven, partly due to red card suspensions.
20-year-old Anne Moll made her third Bundesliga appearance in goal. After the red card from Charlotte Voll, who had to leave the field in the first minute of the recent 5-1 defeat against Wolfsburg, she was already on the pitch for almost the full distance after being substituted against the Wolves.
Moll should have significantly less work against Jena. After just six minutes, the highly favored Rhinelanders took the lead.
Bayer are highly superior and early in front
Vanessa Fudalla passed the ball flat from the left side into the five-yard box. Valentina Mädl, who was lurking there, didn’t get to the ball, but Jena’s Steffi Schmid was right behind and maneuvered the ball into her own goal from close range.
As a result, the Thuringians were not given access to the game; only Bayer played. After just 19 minutes the game was virtually decided.
Julia Mickenhagen crossed completely unchallenged from the left in front of the Jena goal, where Caroline Kehrer headed the ball into the net for Leverkusen’s second goal. The hosts had already revealed major problems in defending high balls.
Piljic error brings Jena back into the game
Bayer were clearly superior, but only Sofie Zdebel (37th) and Paulina Bartz (39th) had high percentage chances. A goal from the hosts was not expected at all. And yet it fell. A defensive effort from the Werkself helped Jena make it 1-2 (41′).
Katharina Piljic played Moll centrally in her own box, who had no other option but to help herself with a cross pass. However, it landed at the lurking Emily Reske, who thanked her and coolly netted in the top left corner. Instead of a comfortable lead, the visiting team only went into the dressing room with a narrow 2-1.
Girls and sweepers meet Preliminary decision
But it was also at the beginning of the second round Leverkusen superior in all respects. Again the ball fidgeted early in the Jena goal.
Estrella Merino Gonzalez outwitted the Thuringian defense with a long ball. The ball landed at Mädl, who poked the ball past the Jena goalkeeper to make it 1-3 (52′).
Fudalla uses Janning mistakes
And goalkeeper Jasmin Janning was the focus again a short time later when she had the ball knocked off her foot by the sweeper attacking from behind. The ball went to Vanessa Fudalla, who scored the decisive 1:4.
The game was now decided. Even after the many changes in the starting line-up, Leverkusen were superior in all respects against overwhelmed hosts and only had to accept the accusation of not having made things clear sooner.
Bundesliga debut for Wrigge
In addition to the connecting goal and a hit on the post by Josephine Bonsu (66th), Bayer didn’t allow any further chances – until the first minute of stoppage time.
The Bayer defense seemed to already be mentally in the dressing room when substitute Noemi Gentile took advantage of Leverkusen’s carelessness after a free kick to make up for the result and converted a rebound from a Bonsu shot (90th + 1).
Wednesday against Werder
An English week continues for the Werkself on Wednesday. Bayer welcomes newly promoted Hamburger SV at 7 p.m.
Our source:
- Game of the 8th matchday of the Women’s Bundesliga Carl Zeiss Jena against Bayer Leverkusen
