Three goals, three points: BVB Women beat Fortuna Cologne | OneFootball

Personnel matters In Cologne’s Südstadt district, the BVB women started the match in their familiar 4-3-3 formation. There were two changes from the 3-1 win against SSV Rhade, with Ronja Leubner and Jasmin Jabbes coming into the starting line-up in place of Nora Willeke and Paula Reimann. Frederike Kempe, who had scored the goal to make it 2-1 the previous week, led the BVB women onto the pitch wearing the captain’s armband.

The matchFrom the kick-off, the BVB women dominated the game against a deep-lying Cologne side. With Jenske Steenwijk and Ann-Sophie Vogel pushing high up the flanks, the Borussia women carried the ball deep into the opposition’s half. Free kicks and corners, all taken by Rita Schumacher, produced the first shots on goal for the Black & Yellows, who were becoming increasingly dangerous. A long-range shot from the set-piece specialist was saved by the Cologne goalkeeper in the 15th minute as she tipped it onto the post and behind for a corner.

A quarter of an hour later, Rita Schumacher curled the ball beautifully into the net to give the BVB women a 1-0 lead (30). This was preceded by her winning a high ball and then playing a one-two with Ronja Leubner. The hosts managed a few counter-attacks in the first half, which an alert BVB defence was able to nip in the bud early on. The BVB women were denied a 2-0 half-time lead after Annika Enderle was caught offside in the 43rd minute.

The second 45 minutes began with a flurry of corners from the BVB women. Although all four set-pieces in the first five minutes flew dangerously into the six-yard box, none found a Black & Yellow player to finish them off. A headed goal was only a matter of time and Ronja Leubner duly converted the tenth corner of the match with a header into the right-hand corner to give her side a deserved 2-0 lead (54).

Consistent counter-pressing and focused build-up play through the two centre-backs, Frederike Kempe and Yasu Wöhrn, secured the BVB women’s comfortable two-goal lead. Rita Schumacher’s set-pieces also proved promising in the 73rd minute as a free-kick from the edge of the box found the onrushing Frederike Kempe, who was left unmarked to direct a composed header into the net to make it 3-0 (73). The BVB women remained the more attacking side in the final quarter of an hour, creating further chances for a fourth goal through Ann-Sophie Vogel (who hit the crossbar) and Annika Enderle. They were ultimately delighted with a commanding 3-0 away win at the well-attended Jean-Löring-Sportpark.

This result sees the BVB women move to the top of the Regionalliga West table on 57 points for the time being, and they will be keeping an eye on 1. FC Köln’s U21s’ match on Sunday. The U21s have the chance to reclaim top spot in the local derby against Vorwärts Spoho Köln.

OutlookFor their penultimate home game of the season, the BVB Women’s team will host FSV Gütersloh at the Rote Erde Stadium on Sunday (17 May, 15:00 CEST). Tickets for the match against the team currently tenth in the table are available from the BVB online ticket shop (standing: €3, seated: €5). The match will also be broadcast live and free of charge on Pluto TV.