Scrappy Bayern Reach Pokal Final | OneFootball

The Bayern Frauen had no time to rest following their unfortunate midweek loss to Lyon in the UWCL as they returned to action Saturday to take on Hoffenheim in the Pokal.

This article written by Matthew Coates

Head Coach Alexander Straus made five changes to the side lost midweek. Ena Mahmutovic returned in goal, Michelle Ulbrich and Carolin Simon came into the defence in place of Gwinn and Sembrant. Sydney Lohmann replaced Caruso, and Alara and Damnjanovic replaced Dallmann and Schüller. A first Bayern start for Michelle Ulbrich as part of some expected rotation. Both Giulia Gwinn and Glódís missed out due to injury concerns.

The Bayern XI was as follows:

Ena Mahmutovic (GK) – Tuva Hansen, Michelle Ulbrich, Magdalena Eriksson, Carolin Simon – Sydney Lohmann, Sarah Zadrazil (c) – Klara Bühl, Alara Şehitler, Pernille Harder, Jovana Damnjanović

Bayern came into this wanting to respond to the defeat suffered at the Campus only five days earlier, and were hoping to reach their second successive DFB Pokal Final – but this time, go one better.

Hoffenheim had knocked out the reigning champions Wolfsburg last time out, so were certainly not taken lightly despite Bayern being large favourites to win the competition. Anything can happen in a cup game.

Clinical First Half

Bayern began on top, with a great chance through Damnjanović to open the scoring in the second minute. A threaded ball into the Serbian striker was precise and hit with power toward the near post, but was well saved by Tufekovic.

Damnjanović was involved again minutes later, crossing a dangerous ball into the box from the right side that was nearly met by the head of Bühl.

The game was certainly physical though, and there were a number of tough challenges on both sides. It was clear that Hoffenheim had a game plan, and were willing to fight to get to have a chance to win their first Pokal.

Thus it was unsurprising that it would be Hoffenheim who drew first blood in the 14th minute – a wonderful long ball in behind the Bayern defence from Doorn was controlled well by Janssens. She ran down the line, cut back creating a lot of space, and picked out Memeti. It was an incredible goal, because she managed to lob Mahmutovic from just inside the box into the far corner, 0-1.

After going one behind, Bayern looked rattled but continued to play into Hoffenheim’s plans. A certain lack of precision when passing, which showed itself in the 24th minute. Lohmann picked up a loose ball and thus was pressured into passing backwards, but the pass toward Eriksson was overhit and inaccurate.

Memeti was wise to the situation, running onto the loose ball, chopping back onto her left foot and striking but her effort was blocked and rebounded into the air. Delacauw was the first to make contact, and the effort went straight through Mahmutovic’s legs for the second goal, 0-2.

Straus was visibly frustrated with his team’s performance and over the next ten minutes or so, Bayern looked out of ideas and was clearly hoping for one of their many talented attackers for a spark. Luckily for them Harder, as she has often done this season, was prepared to take on that mantle.

In the 35th minute, some excellent pressure by Ulbrich in Hoffenheim’s half meant that the ball deflected into the path of Harder, who initially drove into the box and shot on goal. That effort deflected out wide, where Damnjanović controlled and crossed into the centre of the goal. Harder’s movement was exceptional, and thus she met the cross in acres of space and was able to head the ball into the far corner, 1-2!

Bayern looked to capitalize on this change of momentum, and were clearly desperate to continue the comeback. A dangerous run down the right side by Hansen in the 39th minute was picked out by Lohmann on the turn under pressure, and the Norwegian defender chopped back onto her weaker foot and produced a dangerous cross into the box.

The intended target was Harder, but it narrowly missed her and continued toward the back post. Janssens controlled with her shoulder, but Bühl’s intense press caught her by surprise, and her incredible control and shot toward goal was met by an equally impressive save by Tufekovic. She managed to parry it out for a corner, and it was taken quickly by Simon on her left foot.

She whipped a cross onto the head of Eriksson, whose header was prevented from heading goalwards by an outstretched elbow of Cazalla. As a result Bayern were given a penalty, and a chance just before half time to equalise. Harder took on the responsibility, and her penalty was confidently clinical into the bottom left, 2-2!

Bayern were keen to keep it that way through some clever fouls, and the half-time whistle meant the fans could catch their breath for an exciting second half!

Second Half

Bayern were much more confident defensively with the ball in the second half, and thus were able to maintain possession for some considerable stretches of time. This in turn created the first chance, where an incredible whipped cross from Simon on the left side in the 47th minute was met by the outstretched boot of Damnjanović, but Tufekovic was there to produce a stunning reaction save in response, pushing the effort over the bar. Unfortunately for her, that would be her last action, as she had to be substituted for Laura Dick after an awkward landing.

One of Laura Dick’s first actions would result in Bayern taking the lead. Lohmann cleared the ball after a promising Hoffenheim attack in the 53rd minute, and it looked as if the keeper would be able to clear it comfortably despite being under considerable pressure by Harder. Luckily for us however, she completely misjudged the flight of the ball and missed it completely, allowing Harder to run onto the ball and ensure that Bayern would take the lead, 3-2!

Unfortunately after the goal, Hansen had to be replaced due to injury, which meant that Kett was asked to fill in at right-back.

Hoffenheim had certainly not given up, and Mahmutovic was put under some pressure at times. As she often does though, she reacted well and claimed some dangerous high balls, such as a Cazalla header from a long freekick in the 64th minute.

Bayern had an excellent chance to extend their lead on the break in the 66th minute, where Harder found Damnjanović after a delightful lofted ball into the box. Damnjanović controlled well and shot powerfully toward the near post, but Dick atoned for her earlier mistake with an excellent save.

Bayern were more than happy, now they had a lead, to sit back and absorb pressure from Hoffenheim and attempt to counter quickly. As a result, they made a triple change in the 69th minute, with Schüller, Tanikawa and Zigiotti replacing Damnjanović, Alara and Lohmann. Schüller almost made an immediate impact, as Harder was able to thread her through on goal, but her strike on her weaker foot from a tight angle went over the bar.

Mahmutovic was called into action again in the 76th minute, where Hoffenheim’s final excellent chance in the game came from a long-free kick. Cazalla was found stretching her leg out to make contact with the ball from Memeti, but she couldn’t produce enough power to trouble Mahmutović.

Bayern remained dogged defensively in the final fifteen minutes plus eight minutes of added time, looking to win fouls and run down the clock wherever possible. Hoffenheim’s coach was caught being particularly frustrated at the situation his team was in, and was sent off deep into extra time. The game was scrappy and physical, but ultimately, it was Bayern who came out on top and will return to Köln to face one of Werder Bremen or Hamburg on May 1st in the Final.

UWCL Action resumes

First of all I should address the elephant in the room – this was not a great performance. But, to come back against a team that knocked out Wolfsburg after being 2-0 down shows a certain character that Bayern have sometimes missed in previous years. You saw the team spirit and fight at times, and especially when Bayern decided to settle for the result in the last 20 minutes or so. An important victory, a humiliating defeat on home soil avoided, and another excellent chance for silverware.

Bayern have now shown that they can come back from a two goal deficit, which is good news for the Lyon game, but I feel that it might be a step too far. Bayern have shown at times that they are capable of competing and performing on the largest stage, but Lyon also showed their class and quality too. Being knocked out, whilst absolutely disappointing, would not necessarily be a disaster. It just reinforces the disappointing results away to Vålerenga and to Arsenal in the final group game.

That being said Bayern are certainly a team with character, with togetherness, and those qualities have allowed them to extend with players such as Bühl, bring Eriksson and Harder to the club, and attract young talents such as Tanikawa. There is still a lot to fight for, but there is a small chance there could be more after Wednesday.

I want to shout out Michelle Ulbrich for what was a solid performance, both defensively and in the build-up. For her first Bayern start, she was confident and played some key passes, and certainly was not at fault for either of Hoffenheim’s goals. Hopefully, she gets to play more now that Bayern seemed to have suffered yet another defensive injury, this time Tuva Hansen.

And Harder has been absolutely sensational all season. She might struggle to win the top individual awards if Bayern do not progress in the UWCL, but she deserves a lot of praise for her leadership and inspirational performances, and days like today show the value in recruiting older players with considerable experience.

Bayern want to dominate German football, and players with knowhow can prove key in decisive moments. There aren’t many players that have had better individual seasons, so she absolutely deserves to be in the conversation with the very best footballers in Women’s football.

Next up, Bayern travel to Lyon for the 2nd Leg of the UWCL Quarter-Finals on Wednesday 26th March.