The SGS Essen soccer women beat 1. FC Köln 2:1 (2:0). The Ruhrstadt team thus climbed further up the table – qualifying for the Champions League is theoretically still possible. FC is not yet certain of staying in the league.
The Essen team dominated against Cologne from the start. After Beke Sterner had put the first good SGS chance over the goal after a cross from Natasha Kowalski (9th minute), Lilli Purtscheller benefited from a hesitant FC defense in the 10th minute. Defender Martyna Wiankowska let a cross ball from Kowalski pass unnecessarily, so that Purtscheller was free to finish at the far post – 1-0.
After 30 minutes, Kowalski circled a corner to Annalena Rieke, whose header Cologne goalkeeper Jasmin Pal had no chance against. It was 2-0.
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Cologne too harmless
The Cologne team remained harmless offensively until the break, but started the second half more aggressively. For this they were rewarded as quickly as food in half one. SGS goalkeeper Sophia Winkler directed Wiankowska’s powerful long-range shot onto the crossbar, but she had no chance of Natalia Padilla-Bidas’ follow-up shot (54′).
It stayed that way. Theoretically, it is even possible for SGS Essen to reach third place on the last match day and thus reach Champions League qualification. To achieve this, however, they still need a win against cup winners VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt has to lose against Freiburg on Monday and in Cologne on the last matchday.