Harder hat-trick fires FCB Women into cup final

Cologne here we come! FC Bayern Women reached the final of the DFB Cup on Saturday afternoon thanks to a 3-2 win at home TSG Hoffenheim at the FC Bayern Campus. After the visitors went into a two-goal lead early on through Ereleta Memeti (14’) and Féli Delacauw (24’), the Munich girls battled back before the half was done and levelled the score with two goals from Pernille Harder. Eight minutes after the restart, the Dane completed her hat-trick and Alexander Straus’ side saw out the victory.

Having been runners-up last year, FCB Women will again contest the final at Cologne’s RheinEnergieStadion on 1 May. Their opponents will be decided in the second semi-final between Hamburger SV and Werder Bremen tomorrow.

Six changes

Straus made six changes to the team that started in the UWCL quarter-final against Lyon. Ena Mahmutovic replaced Mala Grohs in goal, while Caro Simon and Michelle Ulbrich came in for Linda Sembrandt and the injured Giulia Gwinn in a new-look defence. Sydney Lohmann and Jovana Damnjanović were recalled for Arianna Caruso and Linda Dallmann, and Alara started in palce of Lea Schüller up front.

Bayern battle back well

A minute’s silence was held before kick-off in memory of former German international Doris Fitschen and long-time FC Bayern president Dr. Fritz Scherer, with both teams also wearing black armbands.

Bayern started well and fashioned the first chance after just four minutes, but Hoffenheim’s defender Marta Cazalla blocked Klara Bühl’s header for a corner. The visitors struck first, though, Memeti finding the net from Jill Janssen’s cross. Ten minutes later, Mahmutovic saved Memeti’s effort from the penalty area but Féli Delacauw converted the rebound to make it 2-0. FCB Women got to celebrate for the first time in the 35th minute, though, Damnjanović picking out Harder, who nodded it in. Harder equalised five minutes before the break, converting a penalty given for handball.

Harder puts Bayern in front

The German champions started the second period strongly and Damnjanović was presented with a chance from Simon’s cross, but her first-time finish was tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Tufeković. In the 53rd minute, Harder completed the turnaround and her hat-trick. Substitute goalkeeper Laura Dick misjudged Lohmann's clearance from her own half, allowing Harder to get free in front of goal and slide the ball into the net to make it 302.

Straus’ team kept the pressure on and pressed for the fourth goal: Harder passed the ball into the path of Schüller, whose shot in the 73rd minute just missed the left-hand corner of the visitors' goal. Bayern's defence stood firm in the final phase, allowing the Munich side to leave the pitch with a 3-2 victory and advance to the final in Cologne.

Lyon and Leverkusen

FCB Women have two more crucial games before the next international break. On Wednesday 26 March, the Munich girls travel to Lyon for the second leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final, before the next Bundesliga fixture at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday 30 March.