Jena, March 12, 2026. The women of FC Carl Zeiss Jena have reached the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal after a brilliant 4-1 victory against SC Sand. The standout player of the evening at the home stadium was winter signing Olivia Alcaide, who decided the match single-handedly with a hat-trick.
- Competition: Women’s DFB-Pokal, Quarter-finals
- Result: FC Carl Zeiss Jena – SC Sand 4:1
- Goals (Jena): Olivia Alcaide (68th, 81st, 89th minute)
- Semi-final Opponent: VfL Wolfsburg
Liberation in the Second Half
Initially, the quarter-final appeared to be a difficult task. Although Jena dominated for long stretches, Rio Takizawa equalized for SC Sand with a spectacular long-range shot just minutes before the half-time whistle. The strike, a “Goal of the Month” contender, visibly boosted the guests from Baden and ensured an open start to the second half after the break.
But then came Olivia Alcaide’s moment: In the 68th minute, the 28-year-old Swede nutmegged Sand’s goalkeeper Jule Baum to reclaim the lead. In the closing stages, the attacker profited twice from serious misplaced passes by the visitors near their own penalty area – including one from goalscorer Takizawa – and punished them clinically (81st, 89th minute). With this hat-trick, she secured not only the 4-1 final score for the Thuringian side but also the long-awaited entry into the final four.
Contrast to the Bundesliga
The cup success is like balm for the soul of the team currently at the bottom of the Bundesliga table. Following their promotion in 2024, Jena is currently fighting hard against relegation. With only nine points from their matches so far and 15 goals conceded in the last three games (against Bayern München, Eintracht Frankfurt, and 1. FC Nürnberg), the team is under significant pressure.
Alcaide, who only moved to the Saale from Fenerbahçe Istanbul during the winter break, demonstrated exactly the offensive power the club urgently needs in the relegation battle. However, a mammoth task awaits in the semi-finals: the Jena side was drawn against record cup winners VfL Wolfsburg. In the second semi-final, SGS Essen, who surprisingly defeated Werder Bremen 1-0, will face the reigning titleholders FC Bayern München.
Historical Context: The Cup History of Jena’s Women
Reaching the semi-finals evokes memories of past glories in women’s football in the city. The greatest success in this competition dates back 16 years: In 2010, the team, then still competing under the name FF USV Jena, reached the DFB-Pokal final. In Köln, the Thuringians narrowly lost 0-1 to FCR 2001 Duisburg.
Today, the women’s department is fully integrated into the main club FC Carl Zeiss Jena and plays its home matches at the traditional Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld, located directly by the Saaleauen in Paradiespark. Fans now hope that the momentum from the cup will also help in the upcoming Bundesliga relegation battle against Hamburger SV.
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Carl Zeiss Jena and SGS Essen in the DFB-Pokal: The underdog successes still exist
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.