Jena, 13.04.2026. The U17 girls of FC Carl Zeiss Jena have reached the final of the DFB-Pokal for the first time. With a sovereign 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig, the team of coach Roy Bergner secured their ticket to the final over the weekend.
- Competition: Semi-final, DFB-Pokal der Juniorinnen
- Match: FC Carl Zeiss Jena U17 vs. RB Leipzig U17
- Result: 2:0 (1:0)
- Scorer: Anna Axer (34th, 74th minute)
- Next Opponent: VfB Stuttgart
- Final Date: May 30, 2026, in Köln-Höhenberg
Anna Axer Secures Final Entry
One year after a bitter semi-final exit against VfL Wolfsburg, which was narrowly decided in a penalty shootout, the Thuringian side performed better this time. The match against their peers from RB Leipzig initially began with few chances on either side. After about half an hour, FCC made its first dangerous approach when Anouk Schröder narrowly missed a cross from Elli Richter. A shot by Leipzig’s Ida Kunze on the other side missed the Jena goal by a wide margin.
The celebrated lead for the hosts came in the 34th minute following a set piece: a long free kick by Josefine Schmitz from near the halfway line landed in the penalty area. There, offensive player Anna Axer reacted quickest and poked the ball past Leipzig goalkeeper Lilly Westphal with a direct finish into the net for 1-0.
Dominant Second Half
Even after the break, FC Carl Zeiss remained the dominant team and pushed to extend their lead. The decisive moment came in the closing stages: substitute Marleen Maibohm brought the ball low from the right side into the center. There, Elli Richter set up Anna Axer perfectly, who sent the ball into the top right corner for the 2-0 final score (74th minute). Throughout the match, Leipzig only managed a few noteworthy scoring opportunities, so Jena’s entry into the final was never truly in danger.
In the grand final on May 30 in Köln-Höhenberg, the youth team of VfB Stuttgart now awaits. The Swabians had already qualified for the final as the first team last Saturday.
Successful Youth Development in Jena
Reaching the DFB-Pokal final of the Juniorinnen underscores the high quality of talent development in the female youth sector in the Saalestadt. Jena looks back on a long tradition in women’s and girls’ football, which was significantly shaped for many decades by the former FF USV Jena. Its playing rights were officially transferred to FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the summer of 2020. The DFB-Pokal der Juniorinnen has been held since 2013 and provides Germany’s greatest young talents with an important stage on their way to the professional Women’s Bundesliga.
Source:
Dank Axers Doppelpack: Jena folgt VfB ins Finale
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.