There were no Frauen-Bundesliga matches this past weekend. Instead the weekend served as host to the semifinal round of the DFB-Pokal Frauen. The weekend’s first match featured the second place Frauen-Bundesliga side, VfL Wolfsburg facing the last place side, FC Carl Zeiss Jena. The other match featured the table leaders Bayern Munich against the other team occupying a relegation spot, SGS Essen.
FC Carl Zeiss Jena 0 (4) – 0 (5) VfL Wolfsburg
When it comes to a single decisive game, it’s beyond cliché at this point to say that records are irrelevant and anything can happen. In many cases, a team that is heavily favored shows their class and finds a way to win. Carl Zeiss Jena’s DFB-Pokal Frauen semifinal tilt against Wolsfburg was almost one of those matches that reminds fans why the cliché exists. Despite sitting in the relegation zone at the bottom of the Frauen-Bundesliga table and facing Wolfsburg who are currently second in the standings. Carle Zeiss Jena managed hold on to a 0-0 score through the full ninety minutes plus an additional half hour of extra time to force penalties.
The match didn’t necessarily look like it was destined to be settled from the spot. Wolfsburg captain Janina Minge thought she had given the She-Wolves an early lead when she headed a free kick past Carl Zeiss Jena’s keeper Jasmin Janning in the 24th minute. The goal was negated when the offsides flag went up. In the 67th minute, Jena had a good look in goal when Melina Reuter put the ball on goal from outside the penalty area forcing Wolfsburg keeper Stina Johannes to parry the ball over the crossbar. Deep in extra time, Ella Peddemors had another great opportunity, but Janning made a diving save.
In the shootout, Johannes proved to be the difference in the match. Among the first eight attempts, only Wolfsburg’s Lineth Beerensteyn failed to convert. Needing a save to keep the She-Wolves hopes’ alive, Johannes made the stop on Felicia Sträßer’s attempt. Still needing to convert to keep the shootout going, Svenja Huth got Janning to go the wrong direction on her attempt. Johannes then stopped Fiona Gaißer’s attempt. Smilla Vallotto put her attempt in the back of the net to send Wolfsburg through to the final.
Bayern Munich 4 - 0 SGS Essen
If the Wolfsburg/Carl Zeiss Jena semifinal reminds fans why clichés exist, Bayern Munich vs SGS Essen serves as the return to reality. FCB Frauen thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute when Arianna Caruso volleyed a cross from midfield past Luisa Palmen. The goal was waived off for offsides. Essen’s respite lasted only six minutes as Giulia Gwinn used a nifty backheel pass to put Momoko Tanikawa in on Palmen. Tanikawa made no mistake and put FCB Frauen into the lead. Just eleven minutes later, Pernille Harder headed home a Tanikawa cross to double Bayern’s lead. In first half stoppage time, FCB Frauen extended their lead to three goals when Edna Imade headed her own deflected shot which bounced up high enough off of a defender to enable her to settle under it and drive it past Palmen. Imade scored her second and sealed the result in the 73rd minute when she headed a Barbara Dunst cross past the Essen keeper. FCB Frauen will play in the DFB-Pokal final for the third straight year.
Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich will square off in the cup final for the second time in three years and the third time overall. The She-Wolves have won both previous finals meetings. For Wolfsburg, this will be the opportunity to extend their record total of DFB-Pokal Frauen championships to 12. FCB Frauen are looking to claim their third title.
The Frauen-Bundesliga is on break until the April international window closes. Regular league play will resume with a Wednesday match between Bayern Munich and Union Berlin on April 22nd. The round’s remaining games will be played between Friday and Monday of that week.
