Jena, 24.04.2026 – The U17 girls of FC Carl Zeiss Jena have reached the final of the DFB-Pokal for the first time in the club’s history. With a confident 2-0 home victory against RB Leipzig, the team secured their ticket for the final on May 30.
- Competition: Junior Girls’ DFB-Pokal, Semi-final
- Result: FC Carl Zeiss Jena – RB Leipzig 2:0 (1:0)
- Scorer: Anna Axer (34th, 74th minute)
- Next Match (Final): May 30, 2026, against VfB Stuttgart in Köln-Höhenberg
Brace by Anna Axer Decides the Match
After the first half was initially characterized by few clear scoring opportunities, FCC took the lead after just over half an hour. A free kick by Josefine Schmitz from near the halfway line served as an assist for Anna Axer, who slotted the ball past Leipzig goalkeeper Lilly Westphal with a direct finish to make it 1-0 (34th minute).
The Thuringian side continued to dominate the proceedings after the break. The final decision came in the closing stages: substitute Marleen Maibohm initiated the attack down the right wing and played a low pass inside. Elli Richter set the ball up perfectly for Anna Axer, who curled it unstoppably into the top right corner for the final score of 2-0 (74th minute). The hosts’ defense remained solid, allowing Leipzig few opportunities for a potential equalizer.
Historical Success After Narrow Exit Last Year
For coach Roy Bergner’s team, reaching the final is a historic premiere and, at the same time, sporting redemption. Last year, the team had narrowly failed in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout (5-6) against VfL Wolfsburg.
In the final of the Junior Girls’ DFB-Pokal, FC Carl Zeiss Jena will now face the youth team of VfB Stuttgart. The Swabians also won their semi-final 2-0 at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The final will be held on Saturday, May 30, at Sportpark Höhenberg in Köln.
FC Carl Zeiss Jena is the sporting flagship for women’s and girls’ football throughout Thüringen. Professional development in the youth sector is closely linked to local structures, which, as an Elite School of Football and Sport, offer talented young players optimal training and educational conditions. Reaching a national cup final underlines the consistently high quality of this local training work.
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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.