Another bitter draw

Another 1-1 draw for FC Viktoria Berlin, another draw that should have been a win: Once again, the focus is on missed opportunities and the referee.

The 548 spectators at the Lichterfelde stadium saw an intense opening with two early corners for Viktoria. Both times, Wolfsburg goalkeeper Nelly Smolarczyk punched the ball away (2'/3'). But it didn't take much longer for the first cheers to erupt: just one minute later, Leyila Aydin left two opponents standing on the left side of the five-meter box and poked the ball toward the goal as she fell. The two Wolfsburg players tried to save the day - but collided with each other and sent the ball into the goal (4'). So the 1-0 lead for Skyblue was a rather bizarre goal.

Viktoria's strong offense

The Wolfsburg defense seemed a little overwhelmed, Viktoria strolled through the ranks at times, with many of our players getting a chance to shine: Alisa Grincenco was completely unmarked on the right in the sixteen-meter box, shot directly at a Wolfsburg player, and Laura Casanovas' second attempt went over the bar (11'). Shortly afterwards, Kim Urbanek sprinted promisingly into Wolfsburg's penalty area, but the ball bounced off her foot (13'), Sarah Stockmann's cross from the left was deflected, but Smolarczyk caught the ball out of the air (17').

Unfortunate goal

And as is often the case, you end up kicking yourself for not taking your chances: after just over half an hour and further opportunities for Viktoria, Wolfsburg's Linnea Saelen made a strong solo run down the left into the penalty area and shot - leaving our goalkeeper Michèle Tschudin with no chance (33').

However, our Skyblues were not impressed and continued their attacks, but Aydin couldn't find a gap in the penalty area (35') and Grincenco shot at Smolarczyk (36'). So the score was 1-1 at halftime.

The second half began as the first had ended: with pressure from Viktoria. Shortly after the restart, Urbanek saw that Smolarczyk was standing far in front of her goal, but shot over the bar (47'), and her next attempt from a corner just two minutes later was also off target (49').

Missed opportunities, uncalled penalties

Wolfsburg showed no offensive presence, Viktoria threw everything forward - but VfL fought back, clearing the danger from the penalty area time and time again. However, luck was not on our side. In the 70th minute, there should have been a penalty for Himmelblau, as against Stuttgart, but referee Anna-Lena Weiss awarded a free kick because she had seen the foul on Pia Metzker outside of the penalty area. Two minutes later, Wolfsburg's goalkeeper was only able to deflect Urbanek's cross onto the crossbar (72'), and after another corner, the ball crashed against the woodwork (78').

Shortly before the end, Metzker was pulled down in the penalty area again - again, there was no penalty (88'). Instead, our coach Miren Ćatović was shown a red card for visibly getting upset about the previous decision (89'). In the long stoppage time, substitute Eunice Beckmann was brought down on the left side of the penalty area, and for the third time, the whistle did not blow (90'+6).

Big names from the Main

So another Viktoria game ends in a 1-1 draw. There are now two weeks until the next league game, as next week it's time for the cup. Eintracht Frankfurt is coming to Lichterfelde! Kick-off is at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 28. You can get your tickets here. Let's fill the stadium!

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Goals:

1:0 Aydin (4.)

1:1 Saelen (36.)

Starting XI:

Tschudin - Metzker, Höfker, Krist, Stöckmann - Hahn, Casanovas - Aydin (83. Abu Sabbah), Yaren (56. Wasiak), Grincenco (78. Beckmann) - Urbanek