by Olaf Goldbecker
VfL Wolfsburg v Turbine Potsdam 2:1 (0:1)
It was a one way match towards the goal of Turbine Potsdam. Still the big surprise came shortly before halftime when Lisa Evans marked the lead for the champion of the last three years. Wolfsburg continued with the pressure but had a hard opponent with Potsdam keeper Alyssa Naeher who saved the lead against a penalty kick by Lena Goessling. Jeanette Yango, who only came in at half time and struggled throughout her time on the field, was sent off with the second yellow for the foul that led to the penalty kick in minute 76. Four minutes later Naeher had no chance against Nadine Kessler’s shot, and in the fourth minute of stoppage time it was Kessler again who marked the game winner after a corner kick.
SC Freiburg v FF USV Jena 2:0 (2:0)
Jena freed themselves in the relegation fight with two wins over newly promoted teams lately but was shown their limits in Freiburg. After half an hour Melanie Leipolz marked the lead for the southwestern team before Fiona O’Sullivan increased for the second strike. This already was the final score.
VfL Sindelfingen v SGS Essen 0:3 (0:3)
Early goals and then some workout, that was Essen’s game on this matchday. After two minutes Charline Hartmann got her team on the scoreboard, strikes by Caroline Hamann and Sabrina Dörpinghaus followed within the opening quarter hour. Afterwards, they carried the win home.
FCR Duisburg v FC Bayern München 2:1 (1:1)
Big win for Duisburg which keeps them out oft he relegation fight while Munich surprisingly stays way below their own possibilities. Sarah Hagen even got Munich on track in the first half, but Mandy Islacker tied just before halftime. A few minutes after the break, Kozue Ando turned the game around and kept the points in Duisburg.
FSV Gütersloh v Bayer Leverkusen 1:3 (0:2)
Key game in the relegation battle, the loss moves Gütersloh to a relegation spot for the first time this season. It was their seventh straight loss but the surprising news is that they did not deliver Leverkusen a fight. The visitors were superior throughout the first half, which resulted in goals by Marith Prießen (penalty kick) and just before halftime by Susanne Kasperczyk. The teams were just outside of the locker room when Leverkusen increased to 3-0 by Ramona Petzelberger. Gütersloh had a straight answer by Kristina Gessat and got better as the game went on, but they could not avoid the deserved loss.
1.FFC Frankfurt v SC Bad Neuenahr 4:1 (3:0)
A convincing win of Frankfurt over a usually defensively strong Bad Neuenahr team. A good quarter hour right before the break was enough to carry home a clear win. An own goal by Laura Störzel got Frankfurt on track before goals from Kerstin Garefrekes and Svenja Huth added to the half time score. In period two Garefrekes added her second of the day before Anja Selensky put her name on the scoreboard for the visitors.
Situation: Wolfsburg leads the standings with 25 points and still has one more game to play (Bayern München, December 5). Potsdam and Frankfurt follow with 22 pts. Best of a very broad midfield in the standings is Freiburg at 17, followed by Essen (15), Bad Neuenahr (13), München (12), Duisburg and Jena (11 each). The relegation danger zone only contains three teams at the moment. Leverkusen climbed to 10, followed by Gütersloh, both sit at 7 points but the better goals would decide in favor of Leverkusen. Last in line is Sindelfingen at 4 pts.