FCB Women claim late win against Hoffenheim in Bundesliga restart

The Bayern Women strengthened their grip on the top two in the Flyeralarm Women’s Bundesliga as late goals from Kathrin Hendrich, Jovana Damnjanovic and Lina Magull ensured a 3-0 win over Hoffenheim at the FC Bayern Campus. The victory moves Jens Scheuer’s side four points clear of their opponents in third, but they remain eight behind leaders Wolfsburg with five games remaining.

Both sides were full of life in their first game after over three months off due to the coronavirus, but the first chance fell early to FCB as Magull tested Hoffenheim goalkeeper Janina Leitzig with a free-kick in the fourth minute.

Dallmann keeps testing Leitzig

The best chance for the hosts, though, fell to Linda Dallmann on the half-hour mark when she latched onto a cross from Gulia Gwinn on the edge of the box, but again the TSG goalkeeper kept the game level. Dallmann’s header three minutes later went over the bar before she was again denied by Leitzig just before the break.

Wenninger’s rescue act

Just moments earlier, captain Carina Wenninger had produced the tackle of the game to deny Maximiliane Rall as she was played in with an open goal to aim at. It meant the sides went into the break goalless.

The second half developed into an end-to-end game with chances for both sides. Magull’s effort from the edge of the box was little trouble for Leitzig in the Hoffenheim goal, while FCB goalkeeper Laura Benkarth was tested by a powerful Paulina Käte shot from a tight angle.  

Chance falls to Islacker

Mandy Islacker then had a great chance to put the Reds ahead in the 75th minute, but she was unable to turn Verena Schweers’ cross to the far post over the line.

Hendrich breaks the deadlock

Schweers’ delivery was spot on again a few minutes later when she swung in a free-kick that Wenninger headed back across goal for Hendrich to tap home unmarked for a deserved lead. Three minutes later, substitute Damnjanovic put the game beyond sight when clean through and placing the ball beyond Leitzig for 2-0.

The third goal was a sublime free-kick in injury time from Magull, leaving Leitzig no chance in the Hoffenheim goal as it curled into the top corner.

The Bayern Women continue their campaign in the Flyeralarm Women’s Bundesliga away at Turbine Potsdam on Sunday, 7 June.