Under clear blue skies and hot temperatures, FC Viktoria Berlin kicked off the new Regional League North-East season against Turbine Potsdam's U-20 team. Not only was this the start of a new football year, but it was also a local derby and a top match: the recently relegated second-division team from Potsdam faced last year’s champions.
Intense Opening, but No Goals
From the beginning, it was clear how new head coach Dennis Galleski had prepared the Lichterfelde team for the match: Danya Barsalona sent a powerful cross into the penalty area, where Nina Ehegötz was waiting. Her header missed the target by just a few centimetres (8th minute). Moments later, Ehegötz, who had previously played for Turbine, was backin the spotlight. After a cross from Aylin Yaren, she headed the ball into the visitors’ net—only to be called offside (10th minute).
Kim Urbanek also tried to break through Turbine’s solid five-player defensive line, but her solo run was unsuccessful (11th minute). The home team was doing everything to score the first goal of the still-young season. Captain Stephanie Gerken and Katja Friedl both tried their luck with long-range shots (14th, 18th minute). Both shots were dangerous but not enough to take the lead. The Potsdam side, on the other hand, struggled to get involved offensively and remained harmless in attack throughout the game.
Viktoria’s Offensive Dominance, Potsdam Harmless
After a quick water break, Viktoria came close again in Turbine’s penalty area: Ehegötz delivered a sharp corner into the box, where Anna Höfker was waiting. Her header was blocked, as was Gerken’s follow-up shot (33rd minute). Although Viktoria dominated, they missed the chance to go ahead before the break.
However, the Himmelblauen's 1-0 lead came early in the second half. After a free kick from Yaren in the 50th minute, Marlies Sänger received the ball and calmly slotted it into the opponent's net. Viktoria’s long-awaited lead gave the team a boost, but both Gerken (53rd minute) and Barsalona (54th minute) failed to capitalise on further opportunities. Ehegötz also struck the woodwork in the 56th minute.
Yaren Shines with a Brace
Despite the missed chances, Viktoria stayed calm and continued to press forward. Aylin Yaren was the one to make the difference. In the 69th minute, she converted a penalty that she had won herself in a one-on-one situation. The victory was sealed with another goal from last season’s top scorer, Yaren. This time, a Potsdam defender deflected the ball into her own net, giving Yaren a bit of luck. The match ended on a sour note in stoppage time, as Laura Lindner from Turbine was sent off with a second yellow card (97th minute).
After a successful weekend in the DFB-Pokal, the Lichterfelde team also started the Regional League season with a win. Next Sunday, August 27th at 2:00 PM, FC Viktoria will face their top rivals for the championship, Türkiyemspor Berlin. It remains to be seen whether the Himmelblauen can get revenge for their defeat in May against the team from Kreuzberg.
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