Bayern Munich were in Freiburg for the second time this month after a dramatic comeback turned a 2-0 deficit turned into a 2-2 draw just 16 days ago in league play. On Sunday, Bayern looked to book a spot in the quarterfinals of the DFB-Pokal Frauen.
In the first half — and spoiler alert: the second half too — Freiburg started off with an amazing chance to score, but in the case of the first half, put the ball over the bar undefended. After absorbing some Freiburg pressure, Bayern turned up the heat on Freiburg. At first, their keeper, Borggräfe was up to the test, making a few really good saves one after the other.
The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Georgia Stanway saw a chance to take a quick free kick. She launched the ball from about midfield in the box and found Giulia Gwinn, who flicked it on towards Pernille Harder. Harder celebrated the goal, but a second look shows that it went off of the Freiburg defender, Felder.
Bayern went into the break up 1-0. As mentioned, the second half started much like the first. Freiburg had one solid chance and a shot on goal, followed by five steady minutes of pressure were not enough to find an equalizer. Once Bayern got control of the match, they fashioned a few great chances for themselves. Bayern’s second goal came from a great buildup, ending in a Stanway pass across the face of goal that Lea Schüller put easily into the back of the net.
Although Freiburg did not let up in the pressure, Bayern were on the front foot when Freiburg pulled a goal back. Cora Zicai — who was called up for the first time to Germany’s senior team for next week’s international window — took the ball in space, she cut inside and blasted a ball into the far post past Bayern’s keeper, Mahmutovic, to make it 2-1 in the 61st minute.
Zicai remained the most dangerous player on the pitch for the final 30 minutes. Her free kick in from a dangerous position caused Mahmutovic and Schüller to clash heads in a scary collision. Zicai would also receive a knock and have to be removed from the match at the end. Hopefully this does not affect her callup to the Germany squad.
It was a little shaky at the end, but Bayern was able to keep Freiburg from finding a second goal and finishing regulation at 2-2, like the last two times these teams have met in Freiburg. The result puts Bayern into the quarterfinals as they continue their revenge tour, looking for that elusive Pokal title. Meanwhile, Freiburg crash out at the Round of 16 for the second consecutive year.
