A mistake prevents Borussia Dortmund’s women from winning the fall championship. They now find themselves in the role of the hunters.

This Sunday afternoon in September may well shine until May 31. It could have been the day when Borussia Dortmund’s women gave up promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga. What happened?

BVB had actually won 3-0 at Sportvereinigung Deutz – but they had also fielded Sara Ito. However, the player who scored the final goal was not listed on the match report and should not have been allowed to play. As a result, the game was ruled a 2-0 defeat for Borussia.

Suddenly, the hunted became the hunters. The fact that BVB, under coach Markus Högner, who had come from Bundesliga club SGS Essen before the season, had “only” managed a 1-1 draw against leaders 1. FC Köln II at the end of the first half of the season did not make the Black and Yellows’ promotion mission any easier.

Three points separate BVB from Köln II. Had it not been for the faux pas against Deutz, they would now be in first place in the Regionalliga West thanks to their superior goal difference and would have all the trump cards in their hands to make the march into the 2nd division.

“We are still in the same situation as before the game,” Dortmund coach Markus Högner told the WAZ newspaper, adding: “Only now it’s no longer in our own hands, but we are dependent on help from others. Cologne has been very consistent so far, but we now have to hope that they drop points somewhere.”

In return, however, BVB cannot afford any more slip-ups of their own – whether in terms of play or organization. Only then can they retain a chance of promotion. Högner remains relatively optimistic and pointed out – in familiar soccer jargon – that the final reckoning will not come until May, on the last matchday of the season.