Popp scores twice in BVB Women’s season-opener victory over Bielefeld | OneFootball

Roster

No fewer than five new signings made their competitive debuts for the Black and Yellows in the starting lineup: Jacqueline Meißner and Lara Schmidt bolstered the defense, Ricarda Walkling played in central midfield, while Ramona Maier and captain Alexandra Popp featured on the attack. Head coach Markus Högner went all out on offense with the forward quartet of Maier, Popp, Schumacher, and Enderle – together, they had scored 20 goals in the six preseason matches.

Match Summary

Amid the exuberant atmosphere at Rote Erde Stadium, the Borussia women dominated the match from the start. The team created its first dangerous scoring chance in the fifth minute after a cross to Jacqueline Meißner. The low cross found Ramona Maier, whose low shot was cleared for a corner by the Bielefeld goalkeeper. In the minutes that followed, the BVB Women repeatedly combined down the right flank to penetrate the Bielefeld penalty area – Arminia goalkeeper Johanna Wende was also able to parry two more shots by Maier (10th, 20th).

The match turned into a test of patience for the BVB Women; the visitors from Bielefeld retreated deeper and deeper in front of their own goal as the half progressed. Alex Popp covered the entire width of the field, often dropping deeper during build-up play to distribute the ball in the center. The captain was rewarded for her efforts in the 38th minute when she powered a cross from Enderle into the Bielefeld goal with a header to give her team a 1–0 halftime lead.

The Borussia women continued to focus on counter-pressing in the second half, immediately regaining possession and launching a focused build-up. The BVB Women created their first offensive opportunities of the second half through a low free kick by Schumacher (51st’) and a shot by Sara Ito following a corner (52nd). In the 60th minute, the Borussia women had their next shot on goal when Alex Popp broke through, but the visitors’ in-form goalkeeper deflected the ball around the post. At the other end, the alert Jacqueline Meißner successfully tackled one of Bielefeld’s few forays forward (71st minute).

The closing stages briefly brought some frantic action to a match in which the BVB Women, despite their narrow lead, kept pushing forward relentlessly. Relief came in the 82nd minute: BVB’s captain once again converted a sharply taken corner kick by Schumacher. Alex Popp rose highest at the near post and headed the ball into the near corner to make it 2–0. The much-celebrated finishing touch came from the two substitutes, Steenwijk and Leubner, who had only just come on: Ronja Leubner confidently finished off a through ball played with the outside of the foot by Jenske Steenwijk to seal the 3–0 final score.

Outlook

The BVB Women have ten days until their first away game against SSV Rhade on Sunday (30 August). Kickoff is at 15:00 at Sportpark Risthaus (Dillenweg 115, 46286 Dorsten). The match will also be broadcast live and free of charge on Pluto TV.