1. FC Union Berlin's women's team went top of the league on Sunday afternoon after beating FC Bayern München II, 3-0, in front of a record 2. Liga crowd at the Alte Försterei. Dina Orschmann did the damage with a first half brace, before Jana Kappes' own goal. 

1. FC Union Berlin: Boesl – Sakar, Weiß, Becker (66. Niesler), Steinert, Halverkamps (83. Bach) – Moraitou (66. Frank), Markou (66. Janez), Heiseler (66. Blaschka) – Abu Sabbah, D. Orschmann

FC Bayern München II: Mahmutovic – Doucoure (46. Reszler), Kappes, Zähringer, Gloning – Karl (72. Guzman Zapata), Hünten, Gmeineder (83. Weixler), Senftl (56. Roduner) – Ernst, Wegscheider (56. Portella)

The starting XI

Ailien Poese made two changes to the side that started in last week’s 2-0 win in Andernach. In goal was Cara Bösl, behind a back three of Judith Steinert, Marie Becker and Anna Weiß, making her first league start since September 2023. 393 agonizing days of waiting finally over.

Ahead of them, Athanasia Moraitou was stationed behind a midfield four of Antonia Halverkamps, Lisa Heiseler, Eleni Markou and Fatma Sakar - allowing Dina Orschmann and Sarah Abu Sabbah to lead the line up front.

Attendance: 6.181

Goals: 1-0 D. Orschmann (13.), 2-0 D. Orschmann (45.), 3-0 O.G. Kappes (45.+1)

Orschmann bags two and Steinert adds a third - Union dominate

Just a couple of years ago, nobody would have believed it to be possible, even as Dirk Zingler announced the professionalization of Union’s women’s team. But, here it was, in huge letters, written in red and white across the skies of Köpenick. At the final whistle, Union were not only top of the 2. Liga, they were leading a division they had just set a new attendance record in (breaking their own from the opening day.)

6,181 people were in the Alte Försterei and the hordes packing the Gegengerade were in for a treat. Union were superb and remain the only unbeaten side in the league thus far. If Bayern’s start to the season had been delayed because of the women’s U-20 world cup, it was their hosts who looked world-class here.

Union started off looking keen to win the ball, Athanasia Moraitou, Antonia Halverkamps and Anna Weiß all making challenges in the opening minutes against a Bayern side who were already looking to sit deep, with a line of five strung across their backline.

However, they would look to break ranks quickly, when Magou Doucore carried the ball up from the back, past the halfway line - Union weren’t going to sit and wait for them to come at them. Dina Orschmann played a lovely ball towards Sarah Abu Sabbah, which Union’s striker was certain struck the hand of Luzie Zähringer, but to no avail.

Heiseler, Orschmann and Markou pinged the ball between them at pace, ultimately winning a corner that dropped wickedly towards Markou at the back post, before ten minutes were up; Markou made a great tackle on Marie Gmeineder, Abu Sabbah then turned and was an inch away from setting Orschmann free into the box with a slide-rule pass that was just hoicked clear to safety.

Lisa Heiseler then drew the first save from Ena Mahmutovic, shooting from just outside the box towards the keeper’s left-hand post.

Yet, if Weiß’s first corner had caused panic, as they would continue to do so all day long, the next, after 12 minutes, was even more dangerous and Dina Orschmann was perfectly placed to head in past the helpless Mahmutovic to open the scoring.

She reeled away in delight - the stadium erupted.

Union roared on, Orschmann flicking the ball out right for Halverkamps, but just a bit too far ahead as she burst into space along the flank. When Bayern countered, Moraitou made a superbly timed challenge on Greta Hünten, as did Weiß on Sarah Ernst a few minutes later - this time standing strong, refusing to concede an inch to the world cup returnee.

From set-pieces, Union looked devastating – Ailien Poese would praise her training team after the final whistle, mentioning them specifically and with 20 minutes played, Moraitou hit the most delicate of free kicks, flat and into the gap, where Heiseler couldn’t quite get a toe on it, as Mahmutovic suddenly looked stranded with her back line completely flat-footed.

Bayern were struggling for air as Fatma Sakar attacked down the right repeatedly, cutting inside and out, forcing Ernst’s fellow World Cup attendee, Laura Gloning, into a last ditch challenge in order to stop her after Judith Steinert’s clever long ball; Halverkamps matched her on the other wing, while Markou was a linchpin in the middle, always there to collect the ball and move it on immediately.

Poese was effusive in her praise. “We did an excellent job of implementing what we had discussed during the week, especially inf possession. For me, it was the best first half we've played this season,” she said.

It was desperate stuff for the guests - Bayern were literally clinging on, as Hünten needed to grab a fistful of Heiseler’s shirt to stop Union’s skipper in full flow.

Halverkamps drew the next stop from Mahmutovic after Heiseler turned, controlling the ball on her knee for the fleetest of moments before switching it to the onrushing striker, whose shot was hard and true, only just fingertipped around the back post by the flying stopper.

Still, for all their attacking prowess, Union were also solid at the back. Heiseler was in her own half with 35 minutes played, after Cara Bösl had dribbled almost to the edge of her box - her challenge on Ernst knocking the Bayern player off the ball and cleverly belting the ball off her and out for a goal kick straight afterwards.

The pressure on the visitors was mounting and it got too much as Mahmutovic tried to pass out from inside her own six-yard box but could only get it as far as the ominous sight of Orschmann, looming on her own and now only needing to roll the ball into the empty net.

Yet, that was not it. As the half wound towards its close, Weiß had the time to hit one more corner, this time into the near post, where Judith Steinert was there to cause Jana Kappes to put it over her own line. It didn’t matter, she was celebrated as if it was hers all the same.

The second-half remains scoreless, as Union go top of the table

Union showed little signs of letting up as the second half started, as Halverkamps won the ball just inside her own half, muscling her way past the substitute, Eszter Reszler, before trying to set Abu Sabbah away on the inside right.

They were also content to let their guests have a little more of the ball - Union could now take their foot off the pedal a little.

However, soon afterwards, Bayern had their first real shot on goal, as Gmeineder made Bösl hold her low drive, but it was from a distance and though hit with power, was too close to Union's keeper to cause her any real problems. She made another, from Ernst, a few minutes later - this time as the shot went across her towards the back post, but once again she was more than equal to it, whilst Markou was well placed to head the ensuing corner away to safety.

Even then, as Bayern were enjoying their best phase of the game, they couldn’t find a way through. Marie Becker, excellent all day, made a wonderful tackle on Hanna Wegschneider, sliding from behind, hooking the ball away with the right balance of player and ball, leg and leather. A minute later, now breaking up the middle, she chose to take on Weiß instead, however the result was the same - Bösl raced out to clear at the feet of Amelie Roduner with studied ease.

With 25 minutes left to play and Union back on the front foot – Halverkamps whipped in yet another dangerous ball from the left, Abu Sabbah almost chased down Mahmutovic - Poese rung in the changes. Anouk Blaschka, Celine Frank, Charleen Niesler and Korina Janez replaced Becker, Heiseler, Markou and Moraitou respectively.

Union were unremitting, even pitiless. As Hünten tried to play the ball out from the back, she was hurried by Abu Sabbah and Orschmann before the ball sprung away, leaving Blaschka to pick it up and start Union off once again.

Abu Sabbah came close again, as did Sakar and Janez was a whisker away from nudging the ball past Mahmutovic with five minutes left to play (she’d have another shot a few minutes later, this one held by the Bayern keeper).

There was still time for Latoya Bach to replace Marie Becker, another welcome return for a Berlin-born player who had not seen any action so far in the league this season and it was somehow the most fitting of ways to see such a dominant display out.

Bach used to stand on the terraces here, way back before any of this seemed possible at all. Now, she was right in the thick of it, in front of a record-breaking crowd which jeered Bayern's final free kick and cheered like there was no tomorrow as it sailed miserably over the bar on the stroke of the final whistle.

They were, after all, on top of the league.