Line-up
Compared with the away match at SSV Rhade, head coach Markus Högner named Jenske Steenwijk, Noreen Günnewig and Ronja Leubner in the starting line-up against Mecklenbeck. In return, Jaqueline Meißner, Ramona Maier and Rita Schumacher, who had been carrying a slight knock during the week, initially took their places on the bench.
Match proceedings
DJK Wacker Mecklenbeck dropped deep into their own half from kick-off, initially making it difficult for the Black and Yellows to build their game. In the 12th minute, BVB had a double chance: after a cross from Ann-Sophie Vogel, Alex Popp just failed to connect with the ball in the six-yard box. The resulting corner was headed straight into the arms of Mecklenbeck goalkeeper Lena Kloock by Frederike Kempe.
While the visitors from Münster continued to focus on defending, BVB kept pushing for the opener. A free-kick from around 27 metres by Alex Popp hit the wall (26′). Shortly afterwards, Ronja Leubner was denied by Kloock after getting on the end of a Ricarda Walkling corner. The overdue 1-0 finally came after Leubner won the ball near the opposition penalty area: her pass found the unmarked Alex Popp, who slotted the ball into the far corner with her left foot (33′).
By then at the latest, the captain’s appetite for goals had been awakened. Popp struck again before half-time: in the 41st minute, the striker smashed an Enderle cross under the bar with a drop-kick to make it 2-0.
With no personnel changes and a warning shot from Frederike Kempe (48′), the second half got under way. Wacker Mecklenbeck now also showed more ambition and, in the opening 15 minutes, got forward several times in front of BVB goalkeeper Laura van der Laan. Ironically, an error in the visitors’ build-up led to Dortmund’s third goal: Ricarda Walkling reacted quickly, set up Alex Popp – and number 11 completed her hat-trick for 3-0 (63′).
After that, even 4-0 looked possible, a scoreline that would have sent BVB to the top of the table. But the fourth goal did not come that afternoon. Ricarda Walkling (75′) as well as substitutes Rita Schumacher (85′) and Ramona Maier (87′) failed to take good chances. Shortly before the final whistle, things got dangerous again at the other end: former Borussia player Jasmin Jabbes came close on her return to Stadion Rote Erde, but was narrowly denied by Laura van der Laan.
Reaction
Head coach Markus Högner: “Credit to our opponents from Mecklenbeck, who did really well and got the absolute maximum out of the game. We were a little too sloppy in our actions today; at times we lacked clarity. Alex Popp was the match-winner and made the difference by scoring at the right moments. All in all, I think the whole team is on a good path.”
Alex Popp: “Of course I’m happy about my three goals, but overall we made things a bit difficult for ourselves today. In situations where we could have sped the game up, we lacked good touches and passes. In the end, the result is what counts. Looking ahead to Wednesday, we now need to recover quickly, because Recklinghausen are having a solid season at the moment.”
Outlook
The BVB women now face a busy week: next Wednesday, Markus Högner’s team host 1. FFC Recklinghausen in a rescheduled Westfalenpokal match (09/09, 19:00). Tickets for the first-round game at Stadion Rote Erde are available online. Four days later, they return to Regionalliga West action away at MSV Duisburg (13/09, 15:30, MSV Youth Performance Centre, Westender Straße 36, Duisburg).
Robert Targan
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
