1. FC Union Berlin vs SFC Stern 1900
Womens Regionalliga Nordost, 6. Matchday
vs SFC Stern 1900
Womens Regionalliga Nordost, 6. Matchday
Union put Eight Past Stern
Match report
Two weeks after the thumping 9-0 thumping victory against Hertha 03 Zehlendorf, 1. Fc Union's women's team returned from the free-week with a repeat performance, winning 8-0 against SFC Stern 1900 in their sixth Regionalliga Nordost fixture of the season.
1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner - Wildner (78. Scheffler), Schindler (78. Scheel), Becker, Bach - Reichenbach, Wimmer, Heiseler, Bucher (66. Krauss) - Youssef (66. Kratz), Spolaczyk (66. Görsdorf)
SFC Stern 1900: Bartholdi - Weinberg, Gierig, Ibrisevic, Wacker, Armanious, Herber (87. Holst), Schmitz (58. Roll), Boldt (8. Platte (83. Verheijen)), Cibusch, Lange (83. Hartwig)
Goals: 1-0 Reichenbach (3.), 2-0 Youssef (45+1.), 3-0 Heiseler (47.), 4-0 Spolaczyk (58., penalty), 5-0 Heiseler (68.), 6-0 Krauss (73.), 7-0 Reichenbach (77.), 8-0 Krauss (89.)
Attendance: 250
Union take an early lead, then extend it late
Union started the game against Steglitz with only two changes from the starting eleven in the previous fixture against Hertha 03 Zehlendorf. And they flew out of the blocks, with Megan Reichenbach converting a cross from Lisa Heiseler after only three minutes. Just two minutes later, another cross came in, but Elisa Spolaczyk's header went just wide of the goal.
Stern withdrew, sitting so deep that although Union had a lot of possession, they were unable to create any further scoring chances. Indeed, they came close to equalising out of nowhere on 26 minutes when, after a long ball, SFC striker Aldijana Ibrisevic found herself free in front of goalkeeper Melanie Wagner, but shot over the target.
Again the match returned to its placid rhythm, but Union started to press ever harder as half-time loomed. Both Spolaczyk and Nour Youssef missed chances they probably should have taken. At the stroke of half-time, however, Youssef finally made it 2-0, hitting home after after a cross from Reichenbach.
Second half shooting practice
Union then put on a show in the second half, they were rampant and Stern couldn't stop them. Heiseler made it 3-0 from distance in the 48th minute, before Spolaczyk converted a penalty kick on the hour. The Steglitz backline disintegrated and Heiseler's second goal followed in the 67th minute, before Lina Krauss also added her name to the scoresheet shortly after her substitution, making it 6-0 with 20 minutes still to play. Just four minutes later, Reichenbach also scored her brace to make it 7-0.
There was still just time for Union's goalkeeper, Melanie Wagner, to distinguish herself for the first time, making a fine stop following a corner and ensuring a clean sheet for the fourth time in a row. The final goal was scored by Lina Krauss in the 88th minute to make it 8-0.
With 16 points from six games, Union remain at the top of the table. Their closest rivals are Viktoria Berlin, who won today's top match against RB Leipzig II and have 15 points.
The views on the match
"We delivered a commanding performance," said a visibly satisfied Union head-coach Ailien Poese after the final whistle. "The first half might have started a bit sluggishly, although in principle we did a lot of things right. To then be so decisive in the 2nd half showed our strength. During the break, we talked about a few things that we wanted to do, and we decided we were going to set off fireworks. We succeeded brilliantly."
Double goal scorer Megan Reichenbach said "It was a very, very good game. We played well together as a team. I'm happy about my two goals today and I want to build on that. We're now focusing on the next game in Leipzig, there we want to continue as we left off today."
Outlook
Next Sunday, 16.10.2022, normal league business continues for Union when they travel to play SV Eintracht Leipzig-Süd. The Leipzig side are currently 13th in the league with three points. Kick-off at the Südkampfbahn is at 2pm.
Union vs Stern 1900
Match preview
After the match-free weekend, it's back to business next Sunday for the women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin on the sixth day of the Regionalliga Nordost season. Union will welcome SFC Stern 1900 to Dörpfeldstraße in the next Berlin derby. Kick-off is at 14:00.
Union are currently top of the table following their 9-0 win over Hertha 03 Zehlendorf two weeks ago.
The opponents
SFC Stern 1900 have been a presence in the Regionalliga since 2017, establishing themselves as mid-table mainstays. In their first two seasons in the third division, the team from Steglitz finished in 5th and 6th place. Last season, however, they only came 13th, narrowly avoiding relegation to the Verbandsliga. Consequently, there was a change of coach in the summer, with Marco Böning taking the reins. Under the 37-year-old, the experienced squad - on average five years older than the Union team - are expected to once again secure their place in the league.
So far, however, Stern's start to the season has been somewhat bumpy, with only four points from their first five games. They are sitting currently in 10th. After a clear 3-0 win over Eintracht Leipzig-Süd on the opening day of the season, they only managed one point in the following four games, a 2-2 draw at Magdeburger FFC. Last weekend, they suffered a heavy 4-0 home defeat at the hands of the previously winless Bischofswerdaer FV, who overtook Stern in the table in doing so.
The head to head
Union have won seven of their eight matches so far this year, and their past results against Stern suggest that this run should continue. Only once, in the first meeting between the two teams in the summer of 2017, did the teams part with a draw (2-2). Since then, there have been seven victories in a row for Union. The results have also been decisive: a 4-1 and 3-1 in 2019, followed by 3:0 and 7:0 wins the following season. The last time the teams faced each other was almost exactly a year ago, on the second gday of last season, when Union also won clearly 4-1 at Dörpfeldstraße thanks to goals from Celine Frank, Lisa Heiseler, Yara Scheffler and Megan Reichenbach (the latter pair both scoring their first goal for Union).
The coach's view ahead of the game
"We expect Stern 1900 to be a compact opponent who will do everything they can to defend the goal..." said Union head coach Ailien Pose this week. "But one who will also repeatedly switch to attacking play with quick, targeted actions."
Personnel
Naika Reissner and Sarah Duszat will not be available due to injury. In addition, central defender Pauline Gericke, who has been nominated for the U19 national team, will be absent. The players Zita Rurack, Nour Youssef, Ginger Schulz and Marie Becker are still out with injuries. Whether they will be able to play on Sunday will only be decided in the final training session.
