1. FC Union Berlin's women's team lost 4-1 to FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin in Wednesday afternoon's international-break friendly. After Union took a 1-0 lead into half-time through Sarah Abu Sabbah's 12th minute goal, Viktoria turned the game around in the second half with four goals in 20 minutes.

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner – Bach, Niesler (46. Stibal), Rurack, Weiß – Frank, Blaschka, Heiseler (46. Kratz) – Seiro, Abu Sabbah, D. Orschmann (46. Laidler)

FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin: Tschudin – Schrey, Krist (74. Dekker), Ursem, Trapp (81. Stulin) – Casanovas, Sahlmann (46. Gidion) – Ehegötz (57. Youssef), Yaren (74. Sahlmann), Künzel (74. Friedl) – Stulin (46. Beckmann)

The Personnel: Due to international duty, head coach Ailien Poese had to do without Fatma Sakar, Athanasia Moraitou, Eleni Markou, Ida Heikkinen and Korina Janez. Also missing were Leonie Köster, Tomke Schneider, Marie Becker, Judith Steinert, Pia Metzker, Nele Bauereisen, Antonia Halverkamps, Naika Reissner, Sophie Trojahn, Maria Cristina Lange and Katja Orschmann. Hannah Kratz, Marike Laidler and Vivien Stibal from the U23 team therefore strengthened the team.

Attendance: 99

Goals: 1-0 Abu Sabbah (12‘), 1-1 Beckmann (56’), 1-2 Ursem (63‘), 1:3 Beckmann (75’), 1-4 Youssef (76')

Abu Sabbah scores to make it 1-0 at half-time

With an eye on the weekend's return to league action, the Regionalliga Nordost side, Viktoria, started the game strongly, looking to unlock Union with their passing play. However, teir endeavour would cost them when Union caught them on the counterattack.

Sarah Abu Sabbah intercepted an attempted pass backwards, nipping onto the ball, and beat Michèle Tschudin confidently, hitting the ball underneath the diving keeper. Just a minute later, the centre forward had the next big chance to score. Following a cross from Elli Seiro, and an attempted headed clearance, Abu Sabbah appeared unmarked in front of goal, but this time she couldn't find a way past Tschudin.

The evenly poised game in freezing temperatures was characterised by the battle taking place in midfield, and there was little in the way of further action in the penalty area. It was only in the final minutes of the first half that Union had another big opportunity. Abu Sabbah sent the ball sharply into the six-yard box from the left wing, but it evaded both Lisa Heiseler and Dina Orschmann as they arrived in the box.

Viktoria turns the game around

Union came out of the dressing room brimming with energy and had a great chance through the excellent Seiro after 49 minutes, which Tschudin isaved well to her right, her reflexes tested. But soon enough the game would be turned on its head. Trinity Künzel sprinted down the left and delivered a perfect cross for Eunice Beckmann, who kept her cool in front of Union keeper Melanie Wagner (56'). Seven minutes later, ithey made it two as a free-kick from Katharina Krist found Anna Ursem in the six-yard box, and she headed in from close range.

Union responded as if stung, and they pushed hard towards the opposing goal. Anouk Blaschka put just wide, before Seiro hit the post with a fine drive. In the 70th minute, Latoya Bach tested the opposing goalkeeper with a cross that dipped dangerously, suddenly looking like it would drop underneath the bar for a moment.

However, Union's efforts would go unrewarded, as only a little later, Viktoria decided the game with a double strike with a quarter of an hour to play. First, Beckmann scored her second goal after a corner, before the returning Nour Youssef rounded her former teammate Melanie Wagner to make it 4-1.

The views on the game

"In the first half, we did really well and implemented what we had practised," said goalscorer, Abu Sabbah, after the final whistle. "In the second half, we made a few changes and had to get our bearings again. Unfortunately, we didn't do so well and lost our grip a bit. The gaps in the centre were a bit too big and we didn't manage to close down the opponent as well up front. We'll analyse the game tomorrow and then discuss specifically what didn't go so well today." 

"We were able to distribute a lot of playing time today and did a really good job of it in the first half," said head coach, Ailien Poese. "However, we have to score more goals there and at the beginning of the second half. After that, we didn't manage to close down the centre as well. Of course, Viktoria also has the quality to make good use of that. There were some things today that we can definitely talk about in the analysis,’ was the conclusion of head coach Ailien Poese.