1. FC Union Berlin vs SG 99 Andernach
2. Bundesliga, 17. Matchday
vs SG 99 Andernach
2. Bundesliga, 17. Matchday
Union with a commanding 3-0 win against Andernach
Match report
The professional women's team of 1. FC Union Berlin celebrated an unchallenged home win against SG 99 Andernach, with Lisa Heiseler scoring three goals. The captain of the Iron Ladies scored in the 13th minute, shortly before half-time (45.+3) and in the second half (55.).
1. FC Union Berlin: Bösl - Weiß, Markou (68. K. Orschmann), Niesler, Steinert - Janez (59. Blaschka), Frank, Moraitou (59. D. Orschmann) - Halverkamps (68. Seiro), Heiseler (82. Rurack), Reissner
SG 99 Andernach: van der Laan - Hisenaj (60. Petri), Engels, Krump, Schumacher (73. Müller, Pfeiffer (60. Klyta) - Wäschenbach (78. Reifenberg), Kossmann, Schermuly, Stöhr, Schraa (73. Schulz)
The starting XI: Ailien Poese made just the one change to the side that started in the impressive win in Weinberg. Cara Bösl was in goal behind a back four of Anna Weiß, on the right, Charleen Niesler, Eleni Markou and Judith Steinert on the left. Celine Frank was to anchor the midfield behind Athanasia Moraitou, with Antonia Halverkamps, in for the rested Dina Orschmann on the right, while Naika Reissner was out on the left wing. Captain, Lisa Heiseler, lead the line up front.
Spectators: 5,272
Goals: 1:0 Heiseler (13.), 2:0 Heiseler (45.+3), 3:0 Heiseler (55.)
Union superior - Heiseler continues scoring run
Both the Union team and the visitors in their sky-blue jerseys sought a direct route forward from the outset and did not linger long with passing sequences in midfield. After ten minutes of play, the spectators were treated to two corner kicks from captain Lisa Heiseler, while at the other end SG 99 Andernach even tried to get past Cara Bösl with a shot from the centre circle. However, Union's goalkeeper was alert and made a save.
Her counterpart Laura van der Laan then had no chance at the other end in the 13th minute: Antonia Halverkamps had broken through on the right, outpaced her opponent and showed perfect vision with a cross through the penalty area. Lisa Heiseler only had to stretch out her foot at the second post to put the ball over the line for the lead.
The team in red kept up the tempo from then on and - similar to the opening goal - tried to create further chances with deep runs down the flanks. However, the SG had now adjusted to this, defended more consistently and also looked to get forward more often themselves: However, a follow-up shot from Besarta Hisenaj after a free-kick landed on the outside of the net in the 23rd minute.
Naika Reissner's shot hit the right side of the net on 28 minutes, after she had made good use of Korina Janez's through pass. However, the renewed jubilation in the Stadion An der Alten Försterei quickly died down due to an offside decision.
Just as everyone in the stadium was expecting the half-time whistle, Heiseler, who was currently in top form, showed her skills once again. Janez won a high ball and passed it into the lane with perfect timing, where the Union captain picked up the ball and put it into the net with a clever lob (45.+3). Shortly afterwards, the teams went into the half-time break with the score at 2:0.
Next Heiseler goal - van der Lann prevents a goal fest
A few seconds after the restart, there was another thrill when Anna Weiß almost pushed an extended shot over the line after a corner kick to make it 3-0 (47'), but SG goalkeeper van der Laan threw herself onto the ball at the last second and saved it on the goal line. She was also on hand seconds later to save Antonia Halverkamps' shot from a half-right position (49).
In the 55th minute, however, Halverkamps would also collect her next scoring point of the afternoon: Her corner kick from the left side sailed precisely onto the head of Lisa Heiseler, who gave the visitors' defence no chance and scored her third goal.
While Andernach, who were second last in the table, endeavoured to limit the damage as the game progressed, the Iron Ladies wanted to do something to improve their goal difference. Celine Frank latched onto a Heiseler pass on the right and crossed sharply into the centre, where Naika Reissner was already waiting. However, van der Laan was able to parry the quick left-winger's shot (63'). She also prevented the fourth goal from Union's number 7 a quarter of an hour later (78') when she found herself free in front of the Andernach goal after a pass from substitute Dina Orschmann. Another 120 seconds later, the goalkeeper was once again victorious in the duel of the day: this time she saved a spectacular side-footed shot from Heiseler from point-blank range.
The fact that it was still only 0:3 for the visitors a few minutes before the end of the game was still down to goalkeeper van der Laan. In addition to Lisa Heiseler's thwarted attempts, she also kept out shots from Dina Orschmann (85), Judith Steinert (86), Naika Reissner (88) and Elli Seiro (90). The latter celebrated her competitive debut for FCU this afternoon and, alongside returnee Katja Orschmann, collected important minutes until the final whistle.
Quotes after the game
‘I can't complain today, but we'll play out the season first and then maybe I can give one out. Apart from that, we started the game well today, but then lost the pace at times. Things got better again after the break and we got the three points. We can be satisfied with that,’ said three-pointer Lisa Heiseler, summarising the 90 minutes.
‘It was a good debut. Everything is a bit faster than in Finland, but I'm happy about my first minutes and playing in front of the fans in the stadium was a great feeling,’ said a proud debutant Elli Seiro after the final whistle.
‘That was very confident today. We scored three goals and have a clear match-winner. The team implemented the things from training well, now we have to keep at it and continue to think from game to game and hopefully from win to win,’ said a satisfied head coach Ailien Poese afterwards.
Outlook for the coming week
This matchday will also be followed by a player replacement and regeneration session for the team tomorrow, before a day off on Tuesday. From Wednesday onwards, the Iron Ladies will then prepare for their away trip to FC Bayern Munich's second team next Saturday.
Union Continue the Hunt for Promotion
Match preview
With three wins from three games, 1. FC Union Berlin’s women’s team have got 2025 off to the best possible start. This coming Sunday, 9 March, they will want to add to that as they play SG 99 Andernach. Kick off at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei is at 14:00.
The lie of the land
SG 99 Andernach hosted one of the league's top teams last weekend when league leaders 1. FC Nürnberg beat the Bäckermädchen 4-1. This came a week after they managed to get their first points of the calendar year with a 4-2 win at SV 67 Weinberg.
Meanwhile, Union were fighting for their own 1-0 win in Weinberg. Despite difficult pitch conditions, the Berliners controlled the game but struggled to take advantage of their dominance in front of goal, and it took until the 63rd minute for captain, Lisa Heiseler, to score the only goal of the game.
The opponents
After consistent upper mid-table finishes in the 2. Bundesliga in recent years, the Rhineland-Palatinate side are currently in a relegation battle. With twelve points from 16 games, they are currently 13th, second from bottom in the league. However, they are still only two points from safety.
If their 32 goals conceded gives them, statistically at least, the third-worst defence in the league, things look even bleaker in attack for Andernach. Only bottom-of-the-table SC Freiburg II (10) have conceded fewer goals than their 12. However, 33-year-old veteran Carolin Schraa, who has scored three in the last two games and four in four appearances this season, offers a rare ray of hope.
All things considered, it is all the more surprising that it was Andernach who inflicted the only first half of the season defeat over league leaders 1. FC Nürnberg, winning 1-0 at home on the third day of the season. However, the team failed to live up to expectations after that, which is why the club parted company with head coach André Steinbach, who had only taken up the post in the summer, in November. Isabelle Hawel, who had previously spent years coaching in Andernach but had to take a back seat due to maternity leave, now manages the team together with Thomas Strotzer.
The head to head
The last time the sides met, Union won 2-0 with goals from Pia Metzker and Korina Janez.
Before that, the only previous games had come in 2019 promotion play-offs. After a 1-1 draw in Berlin, Andernach ultimately managed to advance to the 2. Bundesliga with a 2-0 win in at home in the second leg.
The personnel
On Sunday, Union's head coach Ailien Poese will have to do without Maria Cristina Lange, Leonie Köster, Sophie Trojahn, Tomke Schneider, Marie Becker, Ida Heikkinen, Fatma Sakar and Nele Bauereisen.
The coach’s views ahead of the game
“Andernach are a strong team in the duels, who are quick in the transition,” said Union’s head coach, Ailien Poese, ahead of Sunday’s game. “We want to prevent this direct play from deep, take on the duels and use the ball successfully in order to keep the next three points at the Alte Försterei.”
Service information
The stadium An der Alten Försterei opens its gates on Sunday at 12:30, when ticket offices 1 and 2 will be open. Tickets for the game are available for purchase at all Union’s Zeughaus stores, as well as online.
To avoid long lines at the entrances, fans are asked to arrive in good time. There are a limited number of parking spaces available in the car park in front of the main stand and at the Ballsporthalle on Hämmerlingstraße. The parking fee is €4 for both locations.
The game will be broadcast live on AFTV+. There will also be a club-run live ticker, as well as live updates in English and Spanish on twitter.
