The women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin bid farewell to their fans in their last home match of a superb season with a clear 6-1 victory against a battling Blau-Weiss Hohen Neuendorf. Dina Orschmann scored four goals on the penultimate matchday of the Regionalliga Nordost.

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner - Bach (68. Westphal), Gericke, K. Orschmann, Reissner - Frank, Görsdorf (82. Kratz), Heiseler (82. Krauss) - D. Orschmann, Rurack (68. Reichenbach), Trojahn (68. Bucher)

Blau-Weiss Hohen Neuendorf: Isanto - Scheffler (61. Scholau), Buchwalder, Schlom, Pistorius (63. Varamann), Duchowny, Kollek, Bettin (77. Labidi), Lüdecke, Rugala, Wichmann

Goals: 1:0 D. Orschmann (28.), 2:0 D. Orschmann (36.), 2:1 Scheffler (39.), 3:1 Görsdorf (56.), 4:1 D. Orschmann (60.), 5:1 Heiseler (66.), 6:1 D. Orschmann (90.)         

Attendance: 250

Orschmann open the scoring, Blau Weiss pull one back.

Adlershof’s pretty Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz, with a couple of hundred spectators dotting the grass bank, milling about in the sunshine, echoed with applause before kick off as farewells were bid to the Union players due to leave in the Summer. Luise Wildner, Pauline Gericke, Lena Bucher, Anouk Westphal and sports psychologist Mona Utler, all got a fitting roar, as did Hohen Neuendorff’s Sarah Duszat, Anabel Lüdecke and Yara Scheffler, all former Unioner who had never had the time for the send off they deserved when they left for Blau Weiss in the winter.

But then focus was trained onto the pitch. With only two games to go, it was important for Union to keep up their winning streak, and head coach Ailien Poese  made only two changes from the side that beat Bischofswerda 6-0 last weekend. Latoya Bach and Celine Frank came in for Hannah Kratz and Luise Wildner.

Though initially dominant in possession, it took Union a while to get into the game as their guests sat deeper and deeper inside their own half. They constantly hit the byline, but all too often crosses were over-hit, or shots were snatched at. Lisa Heiseler put one into the arms of the Blau-Weiss keeper, Chiara Isanto, she would usually expect to do better with. Lisa Gösdorf shot wide shortly after. Zita Rurack, who would turn her defender with a gorgeous drop of the shoulder later on in the half, was milimetres away from getting her head to a cross after 20 minutes.

But then the breakthrough finally came as Katja Orschmann’s expert free-kick from the left was knocked down by the towering Union striker, Rurack, for Dina Orschamnn to rifle a header a header home, giving Santo no chance.

She would double Union’s lead a few minutes later with another typically unforgiving finish, but Blau Weiss were game opponents, and they started to play with a certain amount more expansiveness as the half wore on. Indeed, they achieved their own breakthrough as Yara Scheffler came in from the edge of the 18 yard box, towards the left, and shot with such power, though Melanie Wagner in Union’s goal got a hand to it, she could do little to stop it.

Union seize control

Having allowed themselves to be pegged back a little, Union came out for the second half looking grimly determined, a shove from Lisa Heiseler betraying her frustrations. It was her partner in midfield, however, Gösdorf, who would make it 3-1 with the goal of the day, a beautiful effort from the right that she caught perfectly, sending the ball into the far, top corner

Four minutes later Orschmann had her hat-trick, putting away Heiseler’s perfect cross

Heiseler finally scored her first of the day, Union’s fifth, and her own 24^th of an astonishing season for the captain. Dina Orschmann wrapped thing up with her fourth, and Union’s sixth, finishing off a perfect ball from deep on the right.

Union women remain in 2nd place in the table with 62 points with a game to play. Leaders Viktoria Berlin secured the Regionalliga Nordost title with a 3-0 away win in Jena, and will therefore play the play-off matches promotion to the 2. Bundesliga against Hamburger SV in June. Türkiyemspor Berlin are two points behind Union in 3rd.

The views on the game

"First of all, I would like to thank all the people who were there today,” said a happy Poese after the final whistle. “It was fantastic to have such support, even during the farewells. We played very well, even though Hohen Neuendorf made it difficult for us, especially at the beginning. "

Four-goal scorer Dina Orschmann praised above all the improvement in performance after half-time. "We gave the fans a nice final game today. At the beginning we had a bit of a hard time, we didn't get into the game that well. But at half-time we rallied and discussed some tactical issues, so that in the end we delivered a good result."

Latoya Bach was also satisfied: "Of course we are happy. We were also pleased that we were able to score a lot of goals. Of course, the goal we conceded was a bit of a downer, but I think we showed the right reaction in the second half.

Outlook

Next Sunday, 28 May 2023, will finally be the last match of the 2022/23 season for Union as they visit bottom of the table, Rostocker FC. Kick-off is at 14:00 at the RFC Stadium, Damerower Weg.