There have been many surprise results throughout the opening half of this Frauen-Bundesliga season, and this round of fixtures indicated they wouldn't end any time soon, as VfL Wolfsburg suffered yet another home defeat, and in-form 1. FFC Frankfurt and SC Freiburg were also the victims of shock results.
SGS Essen 3-2 1. FFC Frankfurt
Of SGS Essen’s five wins this year before this match-up, four had come against the bottom four sides, the other against SC Sand. This therefore represented quite a surprise, but it was a deserved win for Essen. They started the livelier of the two, with Lea Schüller twice going close within the first ten minutes but it was Frankfurt who took the lead against the run of play on 12 minutes, when Mandy Islacker turned in an unselfish square pass from Ana-Maria Crnogorčević.
Essen were undaunted by this set-back and came back hard at Frankfurt, eventually getting their reward as the ever-impressive Schüller headed in from a Linda Dallmann cross. Just five minutes later Schüller turned provider, surging down the right and squaring to Charline Hartmann who put Essen ahead. The first half scoring wasn’t done there, as Islacker brought Frankfurt level with a precise finish after Essen were unable to scramble away a corner.
The game quietened down in the second half, and chances became few and far between, but Essen were pushing harder and eventually got their reward when a reckless tackle by Islacker gave Essen a penalty with 15 minutes to go, which Hartmann dispatched coolly. A frustrated Frankfurt pushed for an equaliser, but apart from Kerstin Garefrekes forcing a reaction save from Lisa Weiß, they looked unthreatening as Essen held out for an impressive win which their performance merited and kept them in fourth place for the time being.
VfL Wolfsburg 1-2 FF USV Jena
The surprises continued in dramatic style on Saturday as Wolfsburg fell to their third home defeat of the season at the hands of FF USV Jena. Meanwhile Jena’s bizarre season continues, with wins away at Wolfsburg and 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and a point from Bayern Munich to go with their loss to 1. FC Köln.
Jena took the lead in the 11th minute when Wolfsburg ‘keeper Merle Frohms dwelled on the ball as Lucie Voňková charged her down, and her attempted clearance hit Voňková and looped back in. Wolfsburg created few chances in spite of a spell of pressure, and not long after a close effort from Julia Simic, it was Jena who extended the lead with a superb finish from Amber Hearn from the edge of the area after strong pressing high up the pitch by the Jena team. Lena Goeßling calmly slotted home a penalty with 24 minutes remaining to put Wolfsburg back in the match, but they were unable to breach the Jena defence again. Ramona Bachmann came closest, but was only able to hit the post when through on goal.
At the top of the table, the result combined with Frankfurt’s loss on Friday, played right into Bayern hands, and allowed the league leaders to extend their lead to an intimidating 12 points with ten games remaining. Wolfsburg’s focus will now surely be entirely on the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal. At the bottom end of the table the win has done wonders for Jena, lifting them seven points clear of the relegation zone and to a relatively healthy 13 points, with fears of relegation now likely to be put aside for another season.
FFC Turbine Potsdam 0-2 Bayern Munich
Bayern started this match knowing that a win would lift them to 12 points clear at the top with ten games remaining. With that knowledge they were able to play a freer game at a Potsdam side still suffering from a high number of injury problems. Gina Lewandowski continued her surprising goalscoring form, netting her fourth goal of the campaign just after the 20-minute mark of the match. Potsdam had their chances, but Bayern are solid defensively, their only weakness being at set pieces. When Vivianne Miedema put the visitors 2-0 up just after half-time, the game was effectively over, and Bayern saw out the win with ease.
The win in this match effectively seals the title for Bayern. It would take an unprecedented collapse in the final ten fixtures for them to fail to hold on to this lead. They can spend the winter break with a focus on improving further for next season’s Champions League. For Turbine Potsdam it doesn’t represent a disaster. After their poor form this winter they will be happy to be just three points behind fourth place. A solid final ten matches from their perspective should see them finish fourth again.
FC Köln 2-2 Werder Bremen
The result neither team particularly wanted, but it will hurt more for Bremen, who led twice. Katharina Schiechtl put Werder Bremen in the lead in first five minutes before Lise Munk scored her fourth of the season to equalise after half an hour. Michelle Ulbrich put Bremen in front again on the stroke of half time, but Bremen were unable to push on from that, and Yvonne Zielinski put the home team back level with half an hour to play. Neither team were able to add to the score, and the points were shared.
While a point is not a great result for either side, both are still in the hunt. Bremen are two points behind Leverkusen, and Köln three points, with a better goal difference. Both teams need to improve, but both are still in with a shot at survival in the new year.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 SC Sand
Bayer’s terrible defence managed to hold the worst attack outside the top four to a goalless draw.
Sand have played well above expectations all season, and shouldn’t be disappointed at only taking a draw here. They are up to 18 points, and can enjoy the rest of the season knowing they have no chance of a relegation battle. Bayer Leverkusen just missed out on spending the winter break in the relegation zone, but their matches against Köln and Bremen will be crucial for their survival hopes. The season has been a struggle so far with just two wins from their 12 matches.
TSF 1899 Hoffenheim 2-0 SC Freiburg
Another surprise in matchday 12 came at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, as they defeated in-form Freiburg 2-0. Leonie Pankratz put Hoffenheim a goal up on the hour mark before Anne Fühner put the game beyond reach in injury time.
The win takes Hoffenheim up to 6th place, a point above Freiburg. Freiburg have been excellent in patches, but they have played poorly often enough to have only won four of their 12 matches so far, compared to Hoffenheim’s five. Both teams will feel positive about their chances if they can have a positive winter break. Freiburg will have the edge if Lina Magull has returned.
