“ Natasha Kowalski proved to be instrumental”


  .SGS Essen Dominates 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, 3-0, in New Coach’s Debut

The long-awaited debut of new head coach Kurt Russ did not bring the rejuvenation 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam had hoped for, as they fell 0-3 to SGS Essen on matchday 6 of the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. With this loss, Potsdam’s struggles continue: the team remains rooted at the bottom of the table, still awaiting its first point and first goal of the season. Despite high hopes for a fresh start under Russ, the match highlighted ongoing challenges, from a depleted roster to a lack of offensive firepower.

First-Half Double Strike Puts Essen in Control

In the opening half-hour, both teams largely canceled each other out, creating few scoring chances. But Essen soon found their rhythm, breaking through with a double strike just before the halftime whistle. Playmaker Natasha Kowalski proved to be instrumental, delivering two well-timed assists. In the 34th minute, her precise cross found Annalena Rieke, who headed it home for the game’s first goal. Just a minute later, Kowalski sent a through pass to Laureta Elmazi, who confidently beat Potsdam’s defense to make it 2-0. The two quick goals set Potsdam back considerably, forcing them into a defensive position as they scrambled to contain Essen’s momentum.

Potsdam responded with some late first-half attempts, their best opportunity coming from Mia Schmid. Her close-range effort was skillfully saved by Essen goalkeeper Sophia Winkler, keeping Potsdam scoreless going into the break. Sara Ito also took a long-range shot that narrowly missed the target, underscoring Potsdam’s frustrations in front of goal.

IMAGO / Matthias Koch

Second Half: Kowalski Seals the Victory for Essen

With hopes of a comeback, Potsdam came out strong in the second half. Kurt Russ made an early substitution, bringing on Maya Hahn in place of Alisa Grincenco to add fresh energy. Noa Selimhodzic came close to scoring with a turning shot that grazed the crossbar, and Sara Ito once again narrowly missed with a long-range strike. Despite these efforts, Potsdam couldn’t find a way past Essen’s well-organized defense.

The final blow came in the 60th minute when Essen scored their third goal. This time, Kowalski turned from provider to scorer, slotting home a deflected shot set up by Ramona Maier. This was Kowalski’s fourth goal of the season, underscoring her form and influence on the pitch. For Potsdam, the third goal was a decisive setback, putting any hopes of a comeback out of reach.



Potsdam’s Persistent Effort Ends in Frustration

Though down by three goals, Potsdam continued to push for a consolation goal. In the closing stages, Emilie Bernhardt came close, but her powerful shot was parried by Winkler into the near post, denying Potsdam once again. Despite the team’s persistent efforts, they walked off the pitch without a goal, further extending their disappointing scoreless streak.

Challenges and Injury Woes Continue

One of the significant hurdles for Potsdam has been the absence of several key players due to injury. Adrijana Mori remains sidelined, recovering from a cruciate ligament tear, while Maria Almasri and Viktoria Schwalm are battling muscular issues. Shahar Nakav, unfortunately, faces a prolonged absence after suffering a dislocated patella in training. The loss of veteran player Bianca Schmidt to a broken toe has only added to Potsdam’s woes. The lack of squad depth was evident, as Russ had to make several lineup adjustments, introducing Mia Schmid, Sara Ito, Ena Taslidza, and Noa Selimhodzic into the starting XI.

In contrast, Essen’s consistency was evident as they fielded an unchanged lineup from their previous match, allowing them to maintain momentum and cohesion. Despite missing Jacqueline Meißner and Lena Ostermeier due to long-term injuries, Essen’s stability and effective team play ultimately proved too much for Potsdam.

Conclusion and Key Questions

The debut of Kurt Russ as head coach may not have gone as planned, but Potsdam showed glimpses of potential. Their continued effort, even when three goals down, reflects a resilience that could be built upon in future matches. However, the team’s inability to find the back of the net raises pressing questions about their offensive strategies and finishing.

As Potsdam continues to grapple with injuries and team cohesion, it’s clear that Russ has a significant task ahead of him. The team’s goal drought is increasingly concerning, and with no points to show after six matchdays, the pressure is mounting.

Key questions remain:

- Can Potsdam find a reliable goal scorer to break their season-long drought?
- How will Russ address the team’s defensive lapses that allowed Essen to score so easily?
- Will the return of key injured players, like Mori and Schmidt, be enough to turn Potsdam’s season around?

Only time will tell if Kurt Russ can steer Potsdam out of their current struggles and set them on the path to Bundesliga survival. For now, they remain a team in search of answers and a sense of identity in a challenging season.

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