19 May, 2024

Super-weekend, Bamsegjengen attending Pokalsieg!

Report from Arnfinn Kjos Eduardsen

After yesterday's renewed Bundesliga contract at the Alte Försterei, my body aches. But the football weekend is not over. Today, Union's women are playing in the finals of the Landespokal Berlin (Polytan Cup). The first team's main game is at 3:00 PM, and the opponent is FC Viktoria. Here, teams 1 and 2 in the Regionalliga Nordost meets. Viktoria won the final in 2023, but over the last year, Union has made a significant mark and is considered to be favorite.

Three hours before the first team's match, the second team has their final. Our U23 team is up against Türkiyemspor II. Both teams play in the Berlin League. Union's U23 team has already secured the league title (undefeated) while Türkiyemspor II is in 7th place. 

Both matches are played at Volkspark Mariendorf, built a few years before World War II. Originally with a capacity for 10,000 spectators, now a large part of the stands are overgrown with small trees and shrubs, so there's not as much space today. There are 2,000 covered seats, and with some rain expected, I started early from Adlershof to find shelter from the rain. With S-bahn construction and replacement buses, the journey takes over an hour.

Attending women's games is a pleasant activity. I think I need to have some matches where the nerves aren't through the roof. The games can be exciting, but nothing like the tension of the men's matches. I need both!

The U23 team dominating their match from the start, scoring after just 2 minutes. Then it got a bit calmer, and the match ended 4-1.

As the first team's match starts, more spectators arrive, and we total 2,500. The Union side was clearly in the majority, I guess we were 1,500 in red. Among us were also a capo and a drummer. The noise level from the Union side was high throughout the game.

The match was tough, and it was 0-0 until half-time. Viktoria played well defensively and tried some counter-attacks. Union was technically superior, but our first goal did not come until the 77th minute. We felt it could be a victory, but Viktoria scored 10 minutes later. Thus, it went to extra time (2x15 min). The decision came 10 minutes into the second extra time – thus, we won 2-1.

At halftime of the match, I needed something to eat, and on the way to the barbecue area, several commented on the Norwegian flag on my scarf. One also got to borrow it for a couple of minutes. See picture!

Throughout the game, I stood next to the mother of one of the players (42 Reissner). The mother was from California, and the father was from Austria. Hence, the conversation was in English. She shared that the players felt a great affiliation with Union and were extremely pleased with the management of the entire women's department. They also had an incredibly skilled coach (Ailien Poese). She emphasized training in technique and how to behave when not in possession of the ball. This is probably one of the reasons they were technically superior to Viktoria.

Union won, but most importantly, it was good preparation before the qualification matches with the opportunity to be promoted to the Frauen 2. Bundesliga. The first match is on June 9 and is played at Alte Försterei, with a return match on June 16. The opponent is SV Henstedt-Ulzburg, who was beaten 3-0 by Viktoria in the last DFB-Pokal. Union's goal is, of course, promotion. And then in the not-too-distant future, continue the journey to the Frauen Bundesliga!

I hope someone from Bamsegjengen comes to the game at Alte Försterei on June 9. The women's path to the top has begun!

EISERN