Union's women ran out 2-0 winners following a commanding performance against FSV Babelsberg 74 in their first home game of the Regionalliga Nordost season. In front of 200 spectators at the Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz, the Köpenick side were clearly superior to their guests from Potsdam.

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner - Wildner (58. Scheffler), Gericke, Schindler, Bach (46. Rurack) - Scheel, Görsdorf, Heiseler (76. Kratz) - Spolaczyk, Youssef (58. Reichenbach), Bucher (46. Krauss)

FSV Babelsberg 74: Haeberlin - von Zadow, Cammradt, Reinkorber (73. Röder), Simon (73. Kaffarnik), Schauss, Schönke, Thermann (77. Bude), Spurtaz, Radloff, Kunze

Goals: 1-0 Heiseler (17), 2-0 Spolaczyk (37)

Attendance: 200

One Way Traffic

Head coach Ailien Poese made three changes to her team after Union's 2-1 win away at Viktoria Berlin with Marie Becker, Pauline Wimmer and Naika Reissner being replaced by Elisa Schindler, Lisa Görsdorf and Elisa Spolaczyk. Though they took a short while to come into the game, it certainly worked, with Spolaczyk hitting Union's first shot on target after ten minutes. 

Union roused themselves thereafter, it was to become one-way traffic.

Union piled pressure upon the Babelsberg side, finally resulting in Lisa Heiseler (who had scored twice the last time the sides met) finishing after a cross found her lurking dangerously in the box. Union didn't let up, creating a constant flow of chances, for Spolaczyk particularly, but the ball just wouldn't go in for the 24 year old.

She few a header just inches wide after 25 minutes, and had a shot superbly saved just a minute later. She the hit the post with another header with ten minutes to go of the first half, Heiseler just failing to get the ball over the line with her follow-up.

But just two minutes later came redemption. Spolaczyk headed Heiseler's corner headed resoundingly home.

Union had been superb. If anything 2-0 was unreflective of how dominant their performance had been. 

Cool Heads and a Calm Performance

The second half began in much the same vein, with Union's players determined not to give any quarter. Once again, however, either the brilliant FSV keeper Nina Haeberlin, or her dogged and indefatiguable defence would get in the way (Lina Krauss's shot that was cleared off the line after a corner in the 59th minute being a great example). However, Union were guilty of a certain nervousnes and lack of sharpness in front of goal at times. 

But they still had to be aware. Aline Reinkorber particularly, a dengerous presense. As the game wore on, and the hosts stepped up, pushing for a third, Union keeper Melanie Wagner had to distinguish herself for the first time after a Babelsberg counterattack with 20 minutes to go. This scare apart, Union continued to dominate the game and finally managed to secure the win.

Union have played two, won two, taking them to second in the table behind the strong, city rivals Türkiyemspor, on goal difference.

The coach's view on the match

Head coach Poese was very satisfied with her team's performance: "We knew they'd play deep," she said after the game. "Overall, we were very solid defensively, and kept the points in Köpenick. We are happy with the result and will start the new week focused again, looking ahead to the next game."

Outlook

Next Sunday, 11.09.2022, Union have to travel to play 1. FFV in the third game of the season. The Thuringians earned their first points this weekend, with a 3-1 victory at Bischofswerdaer FV. Kick-off at the Sportforum Johannesplatz is at 14:00.