Jena, May 7, 2026. Historic success for youth football at the Kernberge: The U17 girls of FC Carl Zeiss Jena are in the final of the DFB-Pokal for the first time. After a sovereign 2-0 victory over the youth of RB Leipzig, the Thuringian side secured their ticket to the final.
- Competition: DFB-Pokal der Juniorinnen (Semi-final)
- Match: FC Carl Zeiss Jena U17 – RB Leipzig U17
- Result: 2:0 (1:0)
- Goals: 2x Anna Axer (34th, 74th minute)
- Final Opponent: VfB Stuttgart
- Final Date: May 30, 2026, Sportpark Höhenberg (Köln)
Anna Axer Fires Jena into the Final
One year after the bitter exit in the semi-finals against VfL Wolfsburg (5-6 after penalties), the team led by coach Roy Bergner proved their nerves this time. In an initially low-chance first half, a set-piece provided the breakthrough: Following a free kick by Josefine Schmitz from her own half, Anna Axer converted the long ball with an impressive direct shot past Leipzig goalkeeper Lilly Westphal to make it 1-0 (34th).
After the halftime break, FCC noticeably controlled the game and pushed for a decisive second goal. In the 74th minute, the deserved second goal finally came after a successful combination: Substitute Marleen Maibohm initiated the attack on the right side, Elli Richter provided the perfect layoff, and once again it was Anna Axer who placed the ball unstoppably into the upper right corner of the net. In contrast, the guests from Leipzig created almost no compelling scoring opportunities throughout the entire match.
Stuttgart Awaits in the Köln Final
In the final, the youth of VfB Stuttgart now awaits the young Jena players. The Swabians had already qualified for the final beforehand with a 2-0 away win at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The clash between the two semi-final winners will take place on Saturday, May 30, at the Sportpark Höhenberg in Köln. This marks only the second time a major, centralized final of the DFB-Pokal der Juniorinnen has been held.
Background: Youth Development in Jena
Reaching the nationwide DFB-Pokal final marks one of the greatest successes in the youth department of the FCC women’s section. The Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld and the attached youth performance center in the Saale-Stadt have been a central talent factory for East German women’s football for years. Many talents who gain crucial match practice in the U-teams of FC Carl Zeiss later make the direct jump into the First or Second Frauen-Bundesliga. The upcoming cup final in Köln now offers the young players an excellent stage at the highest national level.
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Thanks to Axer’s brace: Jena follows VfB into the final
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