Bayern Women Hammer SGS Essen 3-0, Reach DFB Pokal Final

Wahala don finish for Munich as FC Bayern women’s team show SGS Essen pepper for DFB Pokal semi-final match. The game wey play for Bayern Campus end 3-0, and Bayern don book their ticket go meet VfL Wolfsburg for the final. From the beginning, Bayern be the clear favourite, but SGS Essen try small for the first ten minutes. Them even get one chance wey make Bayern goalkeeper Mahmutovic come out quick to clear ball.

But after that small resistance, Bayern begin show their class. The first goal come from fine combination. Kett drive the ball forward, pass am give Giulia Gwinn inside the penalty area. Gwinn use backheel pass give Karolina Tanikawa, and the Japanese player remain cool, slot the ball past SGS keeper Palmen for 1-0. That goal break the deadlock and change the game completely.

From that moment, na only one team dey play. Bayern take full control of the match. Essen dey run up and down, no fit get the ball. The second goal dey come like say na matter of time. And e happen for the 38th minute. Tanikawa get all the time for the world to cross from the left side. In the middle, Pernille Harder jump the highest and head the ball with power. Palmen touch am but no fit stop am from entering net. 2-0, and the task don become almost impossible for Essen.

Just before half-time, Bayern add the third one. First, Klara Dallmann try shot from edge of box, but SGS captain Lena Ostermeier block am. The ball fly up, Ostermeier lose orientation and the ball fall give Edna Imade. Imade try direct shot, but that one get blocked too. No problem – Imade follow the rebound and head am into the left corner. 3-0 for Bayern before referee Fabienne Michel blow for half-time.

For the second half, the game just dey flow like small river. Bayern maintain control, Essen no fit do anything. The only change na when Essen substitute Van Belle come replace Natasha Kowalski. But nothing change. The match end with that 3-0 scoreline, and Bayern don qualify for the final wey go hold for Cologne on 14th May.

This victory mean Bayern go face VfL Wolfsburg for the final. Wolfsburg don qualify already after beating Carl Zeiss Jena on penalties yesterday. That match na serious drama – Wolfsburg no fit score for 120 minutes, but their goalkeeper Stina Johannes save two penalties to help them win 5-4. Alexandra Popp, wey dey injured, dey cry tears of joy after the win. The veteran player wey go leave Wolfsburg for Borussia Dortmund this summer no play the match because of muscle injury.

For Bayern coach José Barcala, this win na important step for their season. Before the match, Barcala talk say them get big respect for knockout games and for SGS Essen. Him warn say them no go underestimate the opponent. And true true, Bayern players listen to their coach and deliver performance on highest level.

The statistics for this match no favour SGS Essen at all. Bayern dominate completely. For the last 14 meetings between these two teams, Bayern win all of them with goal difference of 38 to 3. The last time Essen get any result against Bayern na almost seven years ago with 2-2 draw.

For SGS Essen, this loss add to their difficult season. Them dey second to last for Bundesliga table, and relegation threat dey real. But at least for DFB Pokal, them reach semi-final – that one na achievement wey them fit hold for hand.

Now all eyes dey for the final wey go hold for Cologne. Bayern want defend their title, while Wolfsburg want win am back after missing out last season. With or without Alexandra Popp for Wolfsburg, that final go be serious showdown between two of Germany’s best women football teams.