Union performed superbly in their first game since the winter break, but had to face up to a heart-breaking 4-3 loss against a strong and talented FC Viktoria side who sit deservedly top of the table.

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner – Wildner, Becker, K. Orschmann, Bach (46. Youssef) – Frank (63. Spolaczyk), Heiseler, Trojahn – D. Orschmann, Rurack, Reissner (81. Krauss)

FC Viktoria Berlin: Buchholz – Lux, Shigjeqi (46. Behrend/77. Barsalona), Grosch, Künzel (85. Wasiak), Sänger, Gerken, Statz, Trapp, Yaren, Ehegötz

Goals: 0:1 Sänger (Penalty, 17.), 0:2 Shigjeqi (27.), 1:2 Rurack (29.), 2:2 Youssef (48.), 2:3 Ehegötz (51.), 3:3 Rurack (59.), 3:4 Spolaczyk (90+1., o.g.)

Attendance: 1500

It all ended with the Union players slumped on their backs on the sodden grass of the Fritz Lesch Sportplatz; like they were ready to make muddy snow angels, but they were only down on the floor because they had nothing left to give. As Nour Youssef, who had scored an almost implausible equaliser with practically her first touch of the game, was dragged back up by a helping hand she grimaced. Marie Becker, with her wrist heavily taped, who had been superb at the back, walked away, her eyes only on her soaking boots, her ears ringing with the cheering of the victorious Viktoria team a stone’s throw away.

And Elisa Spolaczyk just looked broken down there. Her teammates offered solace, but there was little to be found anywhere.

The women of 1. FC Union Berlin had been looking forward to this all the long winter long. They’d been talking about it during the Spanish training camp, been preparing through their friendlies. The signings of twins Dina and Katja Orschmann had given cause for thoughts of improvement, the return to fitness of the likes of Becker offered ones of renewed solidity. But they knew it would be hard. Union had stuttered towards the end of 2022, Viktoria had motored through it

For though they may be flush with cash – evidenced by the branded scarves worn by their fans and the presence of a gleaming white bus with their name all over it –they are also a side put together with thought, built upon ideas of strength and precision. In double-scorer Nina Ehegötz and winger, Aylin Yaren their approach was personified.

Viktoria take an early lead, Union drag themselves back into contention

Viktoria came out of the blocks fastest. They opened the scoring after Beslinda Shigjeqi was clumsily bundled over in the box just after quarter of an hour. Marlies Sänger stroked the penalty away to Melanie Wagner’s right, sending the keeper the wrong way.

They would double their lead ten minutes later after Yaren’s burst down the left- opened a hole up in Union’s defence a mile wide. She squared into the box where Shigjeqi side footed home with ease.

It looked like they were going to run away with it, but this Union side are made out of some strong stuff themselves. They refused to let everything fall apart just like that.

The majestic Lisa Heiseler - who operates between the boxes with power and energy, and the lightest of touches on the ball when it comes into her sphere of considerable influence – hit one of her speciality corners, this one as deep as Barry White’s voice, swinging like a latter day Sinatra. It was knocked back into the box where Dina Orschmann attempted a flick with the back of her boot. The ball fell somehow to Becker whose drive was palmed away by Inga Buchholz, but only as far as Zita Rurack, who finished with ease. Union were back in it.

Meanwhile the torrential rain came in sideways and from the back, the wind bothering to exert itself in vicious little gusts, the red hospitality tent at the top of the slope threatened to take leave of its moorings. It was a miserable day, the pitch was sticky and the bounce was next to nothing. Rurack had a free kick turned around the post. Heiseler had a shot from the edge of the box well saved, too. Despite it all the fans of both sides remained, engrossed by what was turning into a gripping game of football.

Union equalise, Viktoria go ahead. Union equalise, Viktoria go ahead.

Nour Yussef had come on at half time for Latoya Bach, and Ailien Poesie sent her team out early after the break, despite the storm. It was a signal of intent, of readiness, of showing the glittering opposition that they were going to have a fight on their hands. And almost immediately, it paid dividends.

Union’s equaliser came from the superb and indefatigable Naika Reissner. She would spend all day covering the left hand touchline, up and down and up and down. Her battle with Yaren was engrossing, her long legged stride carrying her from being a deep-sitting fullback to an attacking winger in the flash of an eye. This time she cut inside and saw Dina Orschmann running into the inside right channel, a shot was palmed away by Buchholz but this time it was straight into the path of the substitute, Youssef’s first touch to score with her right from the right hand side of the six yard box. She boomed over to the bench with huge, impossible strides, she howled into the storm.

Union turned the screw. Celine Frank shot from distance, Heiseler took a series of corners, and they had Viktoria on the ropes. Reissner and Orschmann were teaming up superbly, complimenting each other, creating havoc on the left.

The game ebbed and flowed Viktoria should have scored through Stephanie Gerken when she was given too much space to run into in the box. She took a touch to ready herself as Wagner decided this time to stay on her line. All Gerken had to do was finish, but she dragged her shot wide of the left hand post. It was a huge let off for Union. They managed it ultimately through Ehegötz when Viktoria suddenly broke at pace, cutting Union's midfield out entirely.

Reissner, however, was not in a mood to let that stand. She puffed out her cheeks and went on another maraud, this time cutting inside and playing a beautiful, clever, low ball, into the box that caught Viktoria’s defence napping. All Rurack had to do was score, it seemed almost too easy.

And that seemed to be that. Union had periods of dominance, Viktoria would fight back. The weather worsened and the fans still chanted, and the tent at the back got fuller and fuller as the dignitaries attracted by the game retreated to their luxuries of canvas and wine.

But it all ended in heartbreak for Union. Viktoria won a final free kick, way outside the box that was lofted in, more in hope than anything else. Spolaczyk only knew that it had flicked off her head as she jumped, sending it to slap inside the dripping net with an audible, bitter smack. The Viktoria players rushed off the bench, they hugged and screamed as Union tried for one last miracle, but it wasn’t to be.

And it was as soon as the referee called an end to the game that the Unioner dropped onto their backs, shattered, devastated. The words of their coach after the game reassuring them that they’d made everyone proud meant little at that moment.

Even if they really, really had.