Women's team from Victoria triumphs in historic cup match vs St. Pauli
Hamburg, Germany - SC Victoria's Women's Football TeamSecures Lotto Pokal Title and DFB-Pokal Qualification
In a captivating rematch of the 2021 cup final, SC Victoria's women's football team triumphed over FC St. Pauli, emerging victorious with a thrilling 3:2 (1:2) victory in front of a record-breaking crowd of 4288 spectators at the Hoheluft Stadium.
Under the guidance of coach Dennis Wolf, the Oberliga squad, notorious underdogs, achieved the remarkable feat of defeating their opponents from the Regionalliga. The Lotto Pokal victory marks a significant milestone for Victoria, as it marks the first time their women's team has claimed the trophy, earning them a place in the prestigious DFB-Pokal.
The match commenced with St. Pauli demonstrating strong dominance, dominating possession and reminding viewers of their last season's shutout. Merle Oppenheim's early goal (17') was followed by a quick second from Lina Jubel (20') as theimage-captions'>Regionalliga side seemed destined for victory.
Nonetheless, the tide turned inexplicably midway through the first half. A crucial error from St. Pauli goalkeeper Tara Zimmermann presented Victoria with an opportunity to reduce the deficit. Celine Witt successfully capitalized on the blunder to bring the score to 1:2 (27').
Boosted by the comeback and bolstered by Linnea Taube's dismissal following repeat fouls and a harsh yellow-red card (40'), Victoria transformed their performance on their home ground. Before halftime, a controversial referee decision denied St. Pauli a contentious penalty (45.+2) that could have altered the course of the encounter.
Following the restart, St. Pauli's woes continued. Jana Bothmann's equalizing goal assisted by Finja Paape (50') set the stage for an intense second half, with both sides exchanging big chances. Witt sealed the victory for Victoria with an impressive finish into the corner (73'), securing the club's historic cup triumph.
St. Pauli expressed their frustration at the final whistle, particularly towards referee Jacqueline Herrmann, whom they believed had contributed to their defeat. Coach Jan-Philipp Kalla questioned the disproportionate sending off of Linnea Taube (40'), asserting that the decision had derailed their promising cup campaign.
In contrast, Victoria's coach, Dennis Wolf, justified the yellow-red card and expressed immense pride in his team, describing the victory as one of the most memorable days in the history of SC Victoria. The coach revealed his wish to face SC Freiburg in the DFB-Pokal, allowing Julie-Marie Nachtigall a reunion with her sister, Sophie, on the pitch.
In light of their extraordinary victory, SC Victoria's women's football team, now champions of the Lotto Pokal, aspire to participate in the esteemed DFB-Pokal, where they may potentially face football rivals from European-leagues, such as the premier-league. The triumphant match against FC St. Pauli serves as confirmation of their capabilities, demonstrating their potential to compete against formidable opponents.
