The fact that the Bremen team remained unbeaten at home was once again thanks to striker Larissa Mühlhaus in the top game against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday evening.
They had hoped for it and managed it in the end: Werder’s footballers finished the first half of the women’s Bundesliga without losing a home game. Against Bayer Leverkusen, Bremen won 1-0 and their fifth home win of the season. They have now been unbeaten for seven competitive games in a row.
It took a long time for the top game between the third and fourth in the table to gain some momentum. Werder and Leverkusen more or less felt each other out throughout the first half without producing any major highlights on the pitch.
Mühlhaus strikes again
Coach Friederike “Fritzy” Kromp had hoped that her Bremen team would strike in the first few minutes. But it was a game that demanded another virtue: perseverance.
Immediately after the break, the Bremen team’s patience was rewarded. Bayer’s Lilla Turanyi brought down Maja Sternad in the 51st minute and Larissa Mühlhaus did what she does best – sink a penalty.
Happy Werder leadership
Werder’s successful striker coldly beat Leverkusen goalkeeper Friederike Repohl and netted the ball in the left corner to make it 1-0. Ninth goal of the season for Mühlhaus and the seventh from a penalty.
1,300 fans cheered on the Kromp team in the 11th place stadium at the foot of the Bremen Weser Stadium. But the leadership seemed a little happy at this stage. Up until then it felt more like a game that would end in a draw.
Deserved victory
But with the lead, Werder gained more momentum and gained more of the game. It was a very intensive and strenuous half, but the Bremen team underlined their good nerves and fighting spirit at the end of a strong first half of the season. And it was a deserved victory for the surprise third-place team.
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