The women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin beat 1. FFV Erfurt 9-0 on matchday seven of the Regionalliga Nordost. Sarah Abu Sabbah scored a brace in both halves while Maria Cristina Lange got one in the second, and they were joined on the scoresheet by Dina Orschmann, Sophie Trojahn and Nour Youssef.

1. FFV Erfurt: Kalbe - Gast (65. Hasenbein), Osburg (58. Nehlert), Klipstas, Reinhardt - Berger, Uhl, Janssen - Groll, Mittelsdorf, Preißel (65. Albeno)

1. FC Union Berlin: Wagner - Metzker, K. Orschmann, Niesler, D. Orschmann - Görsdorf (65. Frank), Heiseler, Moraitou (65. Becker) - Blaschka (46. Youssef), Abu Sabbah, Trojahn (46. Lange)

Personnel: Union head coach Ailien Poese made one change to the starting eleven compared to the 13-0 win over Berolina Mitte last weekend, as Sophie Trojahn replaced Maria Christina Lange in the starting line-up.

Goals: 0:1 Abu Sabbah (7th), 0:2 D. Orschmann (21.), 0:3 Abu Sabbah (27.), 0:4 Trojahn (32.), 0:5 Lange (49.), 0:6 Youssef (75.), 0:7 Abu Sabbah (79.), Lange (85.), 0:9 Abu Sabbah (87.)

Attendance: 98

Abu Sabbah puts Union on the winning track early on

Right from the start, the Union women showed the confidence that had helped them towards six wins in six games before kick off in the Thuringian capital. Katja Orschmann hit one of those gorgeous long balls she has made a trademark of to Abu Sabbah who finished coolly to make it 1-0 after only seven minutes. They almost doubled the lead after a quarter of an hour, as a cross from Sophie Trojahn reached Lisa Heiseler, who took the ball with her chest in the penalty area, but the captain put her finish just over the bar.

In the 21st minute, however, the ball zapped into the net a second time. Anouk Blaschka's corner was headed in by Dina Orschmann, getting in ahead of the opposing goalkeeper, Laura Kalbe, to make it 2-0. Abu Sabbah’s blistering shot from range into the top corner made it three before half an hour was up.  

Union were utterly dominant, playing with their heads up, passing the ball around at will, pushing their hosts ever deeper into their own half, and it was with a certain inevitability that Sophie Trojahn finished off some neat work by Heiseler to make it 4-0 as the sides went in for the break.

Lange and Youssef turn the screw - Abu Sabbah gets her third and fourth

At the break, head coach Ailien Poese brought on two fresh attacking players, Maria Christina Lange, fresh from her five goal haul last weekend against Berolina Mitte, and Nour Youssef. Lange picked up right where she left off with barely five minutes played, hitting a superb drive into the top corner.

Union relaxed, taking their time on the ball, and squandering a couple more chances; Youssef hit the bar from the edge of the box with just over 20 minutes to play.

Union, however, roused themselves again, scoring four in twelve long minutes for the hosts, where they were pulled apart as easily as a rag doll whose stitches are showing. First Youssef scored from Lange's cross in the 75th minute, then four minutes later Abu Sabbah headed home Katja Orschmann's free-kick to complete her hat-trick. Abu Sabbah then turned provider in the 85th minute when she won the ball on the edge of the box after an uncertain clearance and crossed for Lange, all alone in space, who slotted home to make it 8-0. It was her ninth goal in the last three games. Fittingly though it was Abu Sabbah who wrapped things up, heading home Union’s ninth – and her fifth in two – almost at the death.

This was Union’s game in hand, and with it they now sit six points clear of Viktoria and Hertha BSC on top of the Regionalliga Nordost with an 11 goal advantage. They are proving to be the toughest of opponents.

Their views on the match

"We did a good job of implementing the lessons we took from the last game,” said a happy Ailien Poese following the final whistle. “We were variable at the back, and scored a lot of goals. We are completely satisfied."

"I am very proud of the team - today was an outstanding victory,” continued four-goal-scorer, Abu Sabbah. “We implemented what we had also talked about in training, so we are very happy with 9-0."

"I think we did well,” agreed Blaschka. “We combined very well, were patient in our build up play against deep opponents, broke well at pace and took our chances. Of course, we are very happy with the nine goals."

Outlook

Next Sunday, 22.10.2023, Union host 1. FFC Magdeburg. Kick off at the Fritz-Lesch-Sportplatz in Dörpfeldstraße is at 14:00. As always, admission is free.