The women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin came away with a resounding 5-0 away win at FC Carl Zeiss Jena II in their 23rd game of the of the Regionalliga Nordost season. Captain Lisa Heiseler scored a brace before Sophie Trojahn, Nour Youssef and Elisa Spolaczyk settled things.

FC Carl Zeiss Jena II: Janning - Wichmann, M. Schmidt (46. Nar), Groß, Berk, Büchner (16. Sevo), Frießleben (86. Bargende), Collaku (34. Calvet), Seifert, Moll, A. Schmidt

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner - Wildner, Görsdorf, K. Orschmann (73. Schulz), Reissner (73. Bucher) - Frank, Trojahn Heiseler (46. Spolaczyk) - Youssef, Rurack (73. Kratz), D. Orschmann (46. Bach)

Goals: 0:1 Heiseler (12.), 0:2 Heiseler (23., penalty), 0:3 Trojahn (41.), 0:4 Youssef (79.), 0:5 Spolaczyk (85.)

Attendance: 61

Union dominant from the start, Heiseler opens the scoring

Union made only two changes from their 4-1 victory over Magdeburger FFC a fortnight ago, with Sophie Trojahn and Naika Reissner starting instead of Marie Becker and Lina Krauss.

After eight minutes,Union had their first good opportunity. After a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper, Janine Janning, Dina Orschmann finished, but the keeper made up for her mistake saving with her feet. She was to be a thorn in Union's side all day, making a brilliant save from Zita Rurack's top corner bound header with her fingertips.

However, Union were now piling on the pressure. In the 12th minute, Dina Orschmann artfully chipped the ball into the path of Lisa Heiseler, who, alone in front of goal, was cool enough to head over the goalkeeper to give Union a 1-0 lead.

They continued to dominate the game, testing Janning time and again until, finally, in the 22nd minute, Katja Orschmann was pulled down in the penalty area, the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Captain Heiseler, nervelessly put away the spot-kick to make it 2-0.

With five minutes left of the half to play, Zita Rurack was put free in front of goal after a pass from Luise Wildner, but failed to finish. One minute later, however, Rurack then provided Sophie Trojahn with a perfect ball; she smacked it into the top corner to make it 3-0 with the break looming. 

Union were making their posession count, encroaching more and more into the hosts final third, but Heiseler could only hit the bar from 25 yards.

Youssef and Spolaczyk put the icing on the cake

Union women continued to dominate the game in the second half, constantly winning back posession, but their hosts were resolute and Union failed to carve out the chances they had in the first 45 minutes.

In the final quarter of an hour, however, their attacking efforts increased once again. First, Celine Frank hit the far post, then, three minutes later, Luise Wildner bustled her way into the penalty area. her shot bounced off the keeper at the feet of Nour Youssef, who only had to roll the ball over the line.

Elisa Spolaczyk then scored in the 85th minute following a corner from Hannah Kratz, the centre-forward heading home to make it 5-0.

With 56 points after 23 games, Union are still in 2nd place in the table, but meanwhile the top match of the day was taking place between Türkiyemspor and Viktoria Berlin, which Türkiyemspor won 1-0 thanks to a penalty kick in the fourth minute of injury time. This means that Union women are now only four points behind leaders Viktoria Berlin, level on points with Türkiyemspor in third place.

The coach's views after the game

"We played very confidently from the start, constantly finding the gaps through our attacking play," said head coach, Ailien Poese, after the final whistle. "So we are very satisfied with the performance. We would also like to thank the Unioners who came along to show their support." 

The outlook

Next Sunday, 14 May 2023, Union will play their penultimate home match of the season when they welcome 7th placed Bischofswerdaer FV to Dörpfeldstraße. Kick-off is at 14:00.