The women's professional team of 1. FC Union Berlin beat Polish champions Pogon Szczecin 3-2 in the second test match of their summer preparations. At the sports ground in Bad Saarow, Pogon Szczecin took the lead after 35 minutes, but Lisa Heiseler found the equaliser just seven minutes later (42'). After the break, Korina Janez put the Unionerinnen ahead in the 63rd minute, before Naika Reissner scored again shortly before the end (88'). Pogon Szczecin scored the last goal of the game in the 90th minute to make the final score 3:2. 

1. FC Union Berlin: Bösl (46. Wagner) - K. Orschmann (46. Rurack), Becker (46. Niesler), Steinert (71. K. Orschmann) - Sakar (46. Schulz), Janez (71. Reissner), Moraitou (46. Markou (71. Metzker)), Heiseler (46. Frank), Reissner (46. Bach) - D. Orschmann (46. Blaschka), Abu Sabbah (46. Trojahn (71. Abu Sabbah))

Pogon Szczecin: Radkiewicz (46. Palinska) - Dygus, Brzozowska (76. Buzan), Buzan, Szymaszek (76. Nowak) - Brodzik (69. Dygus), Zdunek (69. Laniewska), Laniewska (46. Oleszkiewicz) - Kusmierczyk (46. Gietkowska), Okoniewska, Crim (69. Rybinska)

Personnel: Head coach Ailien Poese was again without Maria Cristina Lange, Antonia Halverkamps and Anna Weiß against Pogon Szczecin. 

Goals: 0:1 Laniewska (35‘), 1:1 Heiseler (42’), 2:1 Janez (63‘), 3:1 Reissner (88’), 3:2 Zajmi (90')

Spectators: 80

Heiseler equalises Szczecin's opening goal 

The Unionerinne, who wore the yellow and white shirts for the first time in the new season, took control of the game in Bad Saarow from the kick-off. Head coach Ailien Poese's team had their first opportunity after just three minutes: Dina Orschmann was set up by Judith Steinert and tried a shot from 16 meters, but the visitors' goalkeeper saved it. Union dominated the game and pressed their opponents deep into their own half with aggressive attacking pressing, but there were no further goalscoring. After 16 minutes, Fatma Sakar shot from distance, but her effort skidded two metres past the post. A minute later, Steinert also had a chance, but the opposing goalkeeper saved her low shot. Meanwhile, Lisa Heiseler's shot from 20 meters flew just over the crossbar (20'). In the 22nd minute, a high diagonal pass from Katja Orschmann found her twin sister, but her header landed in the goalkeeper's arms.

The Eisernen’s best chance up to that point came after half an hour. After a throw-in in their own half and a header from Dina Orschmann, Lisa Heiseler had plenty of space in front of her and laid off to Naika Reissner on the edge of the penalty area, but her shot from the left was sent to the corner by goalkeeper Natalia Radkiewicz (30'). Instead, the visitors from Poland made the most of their first opportunity to score at the other end: a free-kick from halfway found Karolina Laniewska in the five-meter box, who pushed the ball into the net with her toe (35').

The goal turned the game upside down. As a result, the Eisernen tried to respond quickly, which they did in the 42nd minute: A shot from Katja Orschmann was blocked in the penalty area, but the ball landed at the feet of Lisa Heiseler, who scored the equaliser from eleven meters. Union even had a great chance to turn the game around just a few seconds after the restart: After a long ball from goalkeeper Cara Bösl and another header extension, the Union team made a three-man run towards their opponents‘ goal, but Dina Orschmann's diving header from Reissner's cross narrowly missed the target (43’). The teams went into half-time with a 1:1 draw.

Janez scores again - Reissner increases the difference

Union made nine changes for the second half. New signing Eleni Markou, who was only introduced yesterday (Tuesday), made her Union debut in midfield. Due to the many changes, it initially took Union a while to arrive to the tempo of the first half. In the 52nd minute, goalkeeper Melanie Wagner produced a brilliant save in a one-on-one, although an offside decision had already been made. Union finally had their first chance of the second half on 57 minutes when a free-kick found Zita Rurack, but her attempt was stopped by a strong foot defense. Judith Steinert then had another shot from the back, but her volley again just missed the box. 

Steinert was also involved in the next attacking move in the 59th minute, when she set up Korina Janez with a through ball. However, the Slovenian's shot landed in the arms of the opposing keeper. Janez then proved more accurate four minutes later: Sophie Trojahn elegantly turned round her opponent in the penalty area and crossed for Janez, who only had to push the ball to make it 2:1 (63'). Union then regained control of the game. However, a shot from Anouk Blaschka after a low cross from Pia Metzker in the 77th minute just missed the post. A volley from Sarah Abu Sabbah in the 82nd minute was also saved by the keeper.

The game was finally decided in the 88th minute: Blaschka found a tight space in the penalty area, whereupon Naika Reissner pit it into the net. In the 90th minute, Pogon Szczecin scored the final goal to make it 3:2 with a shot from the edge of the box, and the referee stopped the game a few moments later. 

Comments on the game

‘We played at a very high tempo right from the start. We were able to improve on the things we discussed in the Wolfsburg test. We had calmer solutions in possession. We found it a little more difficult to create high-calibre goalscoring opportunities today. We shot too often instead of playing the ball. Overall, though, we presented ourselves well against a strong opponent, so we're very happy with the game. We played the halves with two different line-ups and everyone had a great performance, which makes it increasingly difficult for us as a coaching team to decide on the starting eleven. But that's exactly what we want,’ summarised head coach Ailien Poese.

‘I thought we played very well. We implemented all the principles relatively well. We were a bit slow at the start, but then things kept going. After the first goal we conceded, it was a bit bumpy again, but I think we always came back well and were able to secure the win in the end. That's why I'm happy,’ said goalscorer Naika Reissner after the final whistle. 

Next steps

The Union women will now continue their short training camp in Bad Saarow until Friday. Tomorrow, Thursday, there will be a public training session at 11.30 on the Bad Saarow sports field. The next test match is scheduled for next Wednesday, 31.07.2024, against Türkiyemspor Berlin. The match will be played at 19.00 on the Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz in Dörpfeldstraße, admission is free.