by Olaf Goldbecker
During the week two makeup games were played. Wolfsburg increased their lead in a 6-0 win at Sindelfingen. Five of the goals were scored in the final 30minutes and saw Alexandra Popp as player of the match after marking four strikes. Duisburg freed themselves of any relegation worries after crushing Gütersloh 7-3. The home team was up 2-0 after seven minutes, Gütersloh tied after 15 only to see Duisburg being back on a two goals lead after 20 minutes – 4:2 also was the halftime score. After the break Gütersloh closed to one goal again but at the end they suffered a heavy defeat.
On Sunday morning Freiburg battled Frankfurt. The home team had to play the first of three games without Coach Milorad Pilipovic who was suspended by the league as he intentionally shook hands with a referee in a way that she suffered a hematoma. Without their usual head coach, Freiburg surprised Frankfurt by attacking early, which led to the lead by Marina Makanza after ten minutes. Frankfurt tried to find the game, also hit the post a few minutes later, but defensively they stayed vulnerable all the time. Consequence was the second goal by Carmen Höfflin. After the break Saskia Bartusiak got Frankfurt on the scoreboard, which led to a quarter hour of pressure from the powerhouse, but then Freiburg started to take more control again and it became an open game with chances on both sides. However, it was Melanie Leupolz who decided the game on her 19th birthday in the final minute and cared for Freiburg’s 3-1 win.
Frankfurt’s loss made Potsdam regain the second spot after defeating Jena, 6-0. Half of the goals were scored by Jena though as three goals happened by own goals. The first two of the game even were productions of former Potsdam player Carolin Schiewe. Antonia Göransson, Yuki Ogimi and Ada Hegerberg were the one who hit the right side of the net in this match. Bayern Munich defended the fourth spot with a 2-0 win at Gütersloh. Amber Brooks and Sarah Hagen netted for the Bavarians who sent Gütersloh to the last place as Sindelfingen defeated Bad Neuenahr, 3-1.
In a mid table battle, Leverkusen and Essen finished with a scoreless draw. Wolfsburg’s game v Duisburg was postponed due to the Champions League semifinal.
The standings still are pretty uneven. Wolfsburg sits on top at 41 pts in 16 games. Trailing seven points behind are Potsdam (15) and Frankfurt (16). Bayern Munich (30 in 16) and Freiburg (28 in 18) battle for the fourth spot. The midfield is led by Leverkusen (21 in 17) ahead of a trio at 20 pts – Duisburg (16), Essen (17) and Bad Neuenahr (16). Jena sits in tenth position at 15 pts in 16 games. Relegation spots are occupied by Sindelfingen (8 in 16) and Gütersloh (7 in 17)