BVB Women kept their perfect record absolutely intact yesterday, thanks to a monster hat-trick from captain Alex Popp that buried DJK Wacker Mecklenbeck and ensured they remained flawless. Head coach Markus Högner shook up the starting lineup a bit, bringing in Jenske Steenwijk, Noreen Günnewig, and Ronja Leubner, with Jaqueline Meißner, Ramona Maier, and Rita Schumacher (who was battling a slight knock) taking a seat on the bench.
Popp Ignites the Attack After Mecklenbeck’s Defensive Wall
Mecklenbeck came out playing deep, basically putting everyone in their own half, making it tough for the Black and Yellows to get their game going. But BVB still managed a double chance in the 12th minute after an Ann-Sophie Vogel cross, though Alex Popp just missed connecting, and Frederike Kempe’s header from the resulting corner went right to the keeper. Popp even launched a free-kick from 27 meters that hit the wall, and Ronja Leubner was denied by Mecklenbeck goalkeeper Lena Kloock after a Ricarda Walkling corner. But you just knew it was coming: the overdue 1-0 finally dropped in the 33rd minute when Leubner won the ball near the box, dished it to an unmarked Popp, and she slotted it home with her left foot. The captain was hungry after that, smashing an Enderle cross under the bar with a drop-kick in the 41st minute to make it 2-0 before halftime. Högner admitted the team was “a little too sloppy in our actions” and “lacked clarity” at times, but Popp was making the difference when it counted.
A Hat Trick Secured, But Signs of Nerves Emerge
The second half started with no personnel changes and a quick warning shot from Frederike Kempe in the 48th minute. Mecklenbeck surprisingly showed a bit more ambition in the opening 15 minutes, even getting forward a few times. But then, an error in the visitors’ build-up led to Dortmund’s third goal: Ricarda Walkling reacted lightning-fast, set up Alex Popp, and boom, number 11 completed her hat-trick in the 63rd minute for the 3-0 lead. A 4-0 score looked totally possible, which would have sent BVB to the top of the table. But the fourth goal never came, with Ricarda Walkling (75′), and then substitutes Rita Schumacher (85′) and Ramona Maier (87′) all missing chances. Even former Borussia player Jasmin Jabbes made things interesting late, getting close for Mecklenbeck but was narrowly denied by BVB goalkeeper Laura van der Laan. Popp herself said, “we made things a bit difficult for ourselves today,” and “we lacked good touches and passes.”
The team now has a quick turnaround, facing 1. FFC Recklinghausen at home next Wednesday in a rescheduled Westfalenpokal match. Recklinghausen is having a “solid season,” so BVB will need to recover fast and bring that “good path” Markus Högner talked about if they want to keep this flawless run going.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply