Jena, May 04, 2026. The U17 junior girls of FC Carl Zeiss Jena have reached the DFB-Pokal final for the first time following a well-deserved 2-0 victory against RB Leipzig. In front of a home crowd, offensive player Anna Axer secured the ticket for the final against VfB Stuttgart with her two goals.
- What: Reaching the DFB-Pokal final of the U17 junior girls
- Semi-final result: FC Carl Zeiss Jena – RB Leipzig 2:0 (1:0)
- Goals: 1:0 / 2:0 Anna Axer (34th, 74th minute)
- Final: Saturday, May 30, 2026
- Opponent: VfB Stuttgart
- Venue: Sportpark Höhenberg, Köln
Well-Deserved Derby Victory Against Leipzig
One year after the bitter semi-final exit in a penalty shootout against VfL Wolfsburg, the team of coach Roy Bergner has achieved a major breakthrough this time. The first half initially began with few chances on both sides. After half an hour, FCC approached the Leipzig goal dangerously for the first time when Anouk Schröder narrowly missed a cross from Elli Richter. In the 34th minute, the deadlock was broken: after a long free kick by Josefine Schmitz from near the center line, Anna Axer reacted lightning-fast and directed the ball past the Leipzig goalkeeper with a first-time shot to take a 1-0 lead.
Even after the break, the Thuringians dominated the action on the pitch and allowed the guests from Sachsen few chances. Anna Axer provided the final decision again in the 74th minute. The goal was initiated by substitute Marleen Maibohm, who passed the ball low from the right into the center. Elli Richter laid it off perfectly, and Axer finished impressively into the upper right corner of the goal for the final 2-0 score. A third goal for FCC was certainly a possibility in the closing stages.
Looking Ahead to the Final in Köln
In the final on May 30, the Jena team will face VfB Stuttgart. The Swabians had previously qualified for the final with a 2-0 victory at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The match for the title will be held at Sportpark Höhenberg in Köln.
Women’s and girls’ football has a long, tradition-rich history in the Lichtstadt, which is closely linked to USV Jena. Since the full integration of the women’s and youth departments into FC Carl Zeiss Jena in 2020, the promotion of young talent in the shadow of the Kernberge has been steadily expanded. The first-ever entry of the U17s into the DFB-Pokal final is considered one of the greatest successes of the club’s recent youth work and underlines Jena’s importance as a key performance center for female football in Central Germany.
Source:
Dank Axers Doppelpack: Jena folgt VfB ins Finale
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.