There was no winner in the basement duel in the women’s Bundesliga between Carl Zeiss Jena and SGS Essen on Sunday.
The highly competitive game between the second to last in the table and the bottom of the league ended 1:1 (1:1). The division of points doesn’t help either team: Both remain winless at the bottom of the league table – Jena with three points, Essen with two points.
Natasha Kowalski equalized the hosts’ lead goal from Lisa Gora (23′) with a penalty kick in the first half (43′). After the break, despite further chances on both sides, no more goals were scored.
Both teams tried to take control of the game from the start – a role that has rarely been given to either team so far this season, as in most games it was more about standing well defensively and not conceding a goal.
The Thuringians initially succeeded better. Almost after 13 minutes it was 1-0, but Noemi Gentile failed from a tight angle to SGS goalkeeper Luisa Palmen.
Maier missed 0:1, Gora scored 1:0
Six minutes later, however, Ramona Maier should have put the Essen team in front, but after a Fürst cross from the right, the striker failed from close range when she didn’t hit the ball properly and pushed it past the goal.
That took revenge in the 23rd minute. Isabella Jaron came through strongly with an energetic individual action on the left side of the penalty area and poked the ball past the palm trees to Gentile.
Paula Flach blocked her shot just in front of the line, but in the confusing action that followed, the ball came in a detour to the onrushing Gora, whose shot hit the target.
After a foul on Maier, Kowalski converted the penalty
After falling behind, the visiting team became more active and had two chances to make it 1-1. But Ramona Maier initially failed to hit the post (35th), then Maier’s shot attempt after an assist from Vanessa Fürst just missed the top right of the goal (39th).
Three minutes later, Maier was the focus again when she was brought down by Merza Julević in the Jena penalty area. Referee Julia Boike didn’t hesitate and whistled a penalty, which Natasha Kowalski confidently converted.
Both goalkeepers in focus
After five minutes in the second half, SGS trainer Jessica Wißmann had to make a change. Paula Flach fell on her head and was unable to continue. Maike Berentzen came for her.
Ramona Maier was once again dangerous in front of the CZ goal for a short time when, after a cross from the right from a tight angle, she ran towards Jasmin Janning alone from the left, but Jena’s goalkeeper parried the ball strongly (54th).
A little later, her counterpart in the SGS goal was also challenged. She parried a Jaron free kick from 25 meters just as well as she did shortly afterwards when the second Jena corner landed in a detour at Nelly Juckel, who was denied by Palmen from point-blank range.
FCC powered by Jaron Superior
The Thuringians now took more and more control of the game. Driven by the agile Jaron, the FCC pushed the Essen team into their own half, but without having any clear chances to score.
The game, which was fought hard by both sides and also featured some impressive action, was now extremely exciting in the final phase.
Elmazi and Fürst with the chance for a lucky punch
In the final minutes the Essen team pulled ahead again and were closer to the winning goal. Laureta Elmazi missed the biggest miss in the second minute of stoppage time when she was denied by Janning from eight meters on the right. Fürst also found her match in the goalkeeper four minutes later.
In the end it was a fair draw, but it didn’t really help either team.
First the cup in Potsdam, then to Leverkusen
Next up for the SGS in the league is a NRW derby. On Saturday, November 22nd, the away game is against Bayer Leverkusen (2 p.m.).
Before that, the Essen women will play in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup on Sunday, November 16th against second division team 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (1 p.m.).
Our sources:
- Game of the 10th matchday of the Women’s Bundesliga Carl Zeiss Jena against SGS Essen
