The Bayern Munich Frauen got going on all cylinders and delivered a steamroller of their own in a 5-1 Frauen-Bundesliga demolition of TSG Hoffenheim on Monday.
The fifth-placed side in the league from a year ago, Hoffenheim is not having a great start to the season, now with two losses in its opening three games. But courtesy a wonder strike from Selina Cerci, curled in top corner from well outside the box near the half-hour mark, the visitors did look intent on making a game of it.
It just would not last. Bayern finally got on the board near the end of the first half after a handball from a corner delivery gifted Bayern a penalty, which was dispatched with ease by Georgia Stanway. A second corner minutes later resulted in a second goal, headed in by Pernille Harder, ensuring the Bavarians would take a slim lead into the break.
Harder, though, was just on her way to getting better, faster, stronger. After nearly scoring again straight out of the break, the former Chelsea FC superstar took command in the second half, with two more goals — in the 57th and 88th minutes — to put the game away for Bayern. The first goal saw her recover the ball and then dribble down half the length of the field before firing between two backpedaling defenders. The second saw Lea Schüller slide cleanly across the box on a decisive Bayern breakaway.
Schüller then supplied Sydney Lohmann for the fifth and final goal in stoppage time.
Highlights below:
As explained in the FCBayern.com recap, the match was also notable for giving the spotlight to two initiatives. First, the matchday motto: ‘Together: Good Play’, served as a promotion for sustainability. Second, spectators were invited to sign on to FC Bayern’s ‘Not with us’ campaign against “right-wing extremism, antisemitism and racism”, which has the support of top club executives as president Herbert Hainer and honorary president Uli Hoeneß.
With the win, the Frauen improve to 3-0 on the season and sit top of the Frauen-Bundesliga table. Next on tap, a road trip to play SV Werder Bremen on Sunday, a club subjected last weekend to a 5-0 shellacking by the FC Bayern men’s side.