Leverkusen Stays Unbeaten with 2-0 Win Over SGS Essen

• by Santiago Merlot
• IMAGO / Fotografie73 - PHOTO
• 31 Comments

Bayer 04 Leverkusen remains undefeated after three matchdays in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, showcasing a strong performance under new head coach Roberto Pätzold. The team secured a 2-0 victory in a hard-fought NRW derby against SGS Essen.

In front of 1,512 fans at the Hafenstrasse Stadium, Leverkusen’s Kristin Kögel, celebrating her 25th birthday, opened the scoring just seconds into the second half (46th minute). Moments later, Kögel set up her teammate Janou Levels for the second goal (57th minute). Despite Levels being sent off with a yellow-red card (67th minute), Leverkusen held on to their two-goal lead, securing the win.

Post-match Reactions

Leverkusen’s goalscorer, Kristin Kögel, expressed her relief after the victory. "The win is a huge relief. Our goal was to take all three points, and we did just that. I’m glad I could contribute with a goal, but the team's resilience, especially with a player down, makes me incredibly proud."

On the other hand, Essen’s Annalena Rieke acknowledged her team’s struggle against Leverkusen’s pressure after the break. "We knew they would come out strong after halftime. Our plan was to remain composed in defense, but we conceded two unfortunate goals, which we ultimately invited."

Injury Woes for SGS Essen

SGS Essen faced significant challenges even before kick-off. Coach Markus Högner had to once again improvise due to numerous defensive absences. Captain Jacqueline Meißner, Lena Ostermeier, Laura Pucks, and now Beke Sterner were all sidelined with injuries, forcing Högner to reshuffle his backline. Julia Debitzki filled in for Sterner, while Kassandra Potsi also featured on the bench.

Leverkusen, on the other hand, fielded the same starting eleven that drew 2-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt, including former SGS Essen midfielder Katharina Piljic, who returned to face her old club after transferring in the summer.

A Tight First Half Leverkusen began the match dominantly but struggled to find a breakthrough in the first half. Their first real chance came from a corner, with Juliette Vidal missing a headed opportunity at the far post. Shortly after, Janou Levels saw her shot deflected wide for a corner.

SGS Essen had their share of chances, with Julia Debitzki sending a close-range effort over the bar after a right-wing attack, and Natasha Kowalski’s free-kick narrowly missing the target just before halftime. However, the teams went into the break with the scoreline still 0-0.

Second-Half Action and Drama

The second half kicked off in dramatic fashion, as Kristin Kögel struck from outside the box to give Leverkusen the lead just seconds after the restart. Leverkusen almost doubled their lead soon after when Carolina Kehrer’s shot missed narrowly, but in the 57th minute, Kögel found Janou Levels with a pinpoint pass, and the forward made no mistake, giving Leverkusen a 2-0 advantage.

SGS Essen responded by pushing forward, but despite a few close calls, including a disallowed goal from Ramona Maier, they couldn’t break through Leverkusen’s defense. Their efforts received a boost when Levels was sent off with a second yellow card in the 67th minute for repeated fouls, leaving Leverkusen down to ten players. However, despite the numerical advantage, Essen could not capitalize, and Leverkusen held on to their lead until the final whistle.

Conclusion

Bayer Leverkusen's victory over SGS Essen highlights their growing strength under new leadership, as they continue their unbeaten run in the Women's Bundesliga. Despite facing adversity, including a sending-off and a strong SGS Essen side, Leverkusen showcased resilience and composure to secure the win. Essen, meanwhile, struggled with a depleted squad and could not find the breakthrough they needed to change the outcome of the match.

Takeaway Questions:

1. How will Bayer Leverkusen continue to build on their early success in the Women's Bundesliga under Roberto Pätzold?

2. Can SGS Essen overcome their injury woes and bounce back in the coming fixtures?

3. What tactical adjustments could have helped Essen take advantage of their numerical superiority in the second half?

However, on September 19, 2024, Bayer 04 Leverkusen lodged an appeal against this ruling. The controversy stems from the 88th minute of the match when a penalty was awarded to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Read more on this here.

Leverkusen lodged Appeal against court ruling

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Mandarin / 汉语

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