Jena, May 10, 2026. The U17 female footballers of FC Carl Zeiss Jena have made club history and are in the final of the Juniorinnen DFB-Pokal for the first time. With a confident 2:0 home victory over the weekend against RB Leipzig, the team led by coach Roy Bergner made the dream of the final come true.
- Competition: Juniorinnen DFB-Pokal (Semi-final)
- Match: FC Carl Zeiss Jena U17 vs. RB Leipzig U17
- Final Score: 2:0 (1:0)
- Scorer: Anna Axer (34th, 74th minute)
- Next Opponent: VfB Stuttgart
- Date for the Final: May 30, 2026 (Venue: Köln-Höhenberg)
Tight First Half and the Breakthrough
The first half of the encounter was initially low on chances, with both teams acting with tactical discipline. After a good half hour, the Jena supporters almost had reason to cheer for the first time when Anouk Schröder narrowly missed the ball following a sharp cross from Elli Richter. Almost in the direct counter-attack, Leipzig’s Ida Kunze caused danger with a volley after a cross from Elaine Gleixner, but the ball went clearly wide of the goal.
The lead for the hosts finally came from a set piece: a long-range free kick by Josefine Schmitz from near the center line landed precisely in the penalty area. There, Anna Axer reacted lightning-fast and directed the ball past Leipzig’s goalkeeper Lilly Westphal with a direct shot into the net for the celebrated 1:0 (34th minute).
Axer Completes the Brace for the Decision
After the halftime break, the team from Thüringen found their way into the match even better and pushed for the decision. Leipzig struggled in the attacking third to create clear equalizing opportunities. In the closing stages, the FCC finally crowned its strong performance: substitute Marleen Maibohm initiated the attack on the right side and passed flat into the center. Elli Richter showed great vision, laying the ball off perfectly, and once again it was Anna Axer who struck the ball beautifully into the top right corner for the 2:0 final score (74th minute). Further high-quality chances for the Jena players remained unused but did not change the deserved victory.
Background: Balm After Last Year’s Drama
For the U17 squad of FC Carl Zeiss Jena, this entry into the final is a very special milestone that also heals deep emotional wounds. Exactly one year earlier, the team was also in the semi-finals of the same competition, but was narrowly defeated 5:6 on penalties against VfL Wolfsburg after a dramatic match. Coach Roy Bergner has succeeded in further developing the team mentally and playfully after this setback. The upcoming final on May 30 in Köln-Höhenberg represents the highlight of their careers so far for the young players from Thüringen. Women’s football has a long tradition in Jena, which was significantly established by the former FF USV Jena, whose structures were transferred to FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the summer of 2020.
Source:
Thanks to Axer’s brace: Jena follows VfB into the final
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.