Bayer ripped off countered: Union Berlin remains the Bundesliga sensation

Friday 15th January 2021

Bayer ripped off countered
Union Berlin remains the Bundesliga sensation

Union Berlin's phenomenal journey through the Bundesliga continues: the winning goal against Bayer Leverkusen comes late. Before that, the iron team were very lucky that a failed back pass in their own penalty area had no consequences.

Union Berlin annoyed a top team again and stormed to fourth place for at least one day. The team of coach Urs Fischer defeated Bayer Leverkusen in their 50th Bundesliga match with a late counter goal by Joker Cedric Teuchert (88th) with 1-0 (0-0) and moved up to one point on the third-placed Rhinelander with 28 points. A sensational success story. Because before that, Bayern (1: 1) and Borussia Dortmund (2: 1) had messed up with the Iron.

"We all know that we have only collected three points more for our goal of getting 40 points," warned Union's left-back Christopher Lenz at DAZN. For Teuchert, who was not only substituted once but also after his decision, fourth place "sounded extremely good. It's a lot of fun, especially." His long sprint to the winning goal meant the first three against Bayer in the fourth attempt since the promotion in summer 2019. For Leverkusen, however, the trend is pointing further down: The Werkself remained without a win in their fourth league game in a row and continued to lose ground in the title fight.

Three days after the 4: 1 in the second round of the DFB Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt, Leverkusen took on the offensive. Thanks to Moussa Diaby's speed, the guests came behind the defensive chain several times on the right side, but Nadiem Amiri and Patrik Schick did not make enough of their chances. Young star Florian Wirtz was not part of the Bayer squad due to problems in the hollow of his knee.

Union acted from a reinforced defense with three central defenders and a chain of five. In the game forward, the hosts presented themselves extremely safe on the ball, but avoided too high a risk. Nevertheless, the 1-0 for the home side was in the air. After a corner from Christopher Trimmel, Florian Huebner headed free from close range, but put the ball next to the goal.

Union reacts quickly to Bosz's ruse

Bad luck for Union was that the last strong Sheraldo Becker had to get out injured after a duel with Edmond Tapsoba after 25 minutes. For the attacker, however, came: Teuchert. Bosz responded by sending his two wingers Leon Bailey and Diaby to the other side, but Union quickly adjusted to the feint.

By half time, Leverkusen was much closer to the lead. After advances over the flanks, the ball often came dangerously inside to the edge of the penalty area, but Amiri (38th) and Julian Baumgartlinger (42nd) did not aim accurately enough from the second row. "We lose the balls too quickly, which increases the pressure on Leverkusen," warned the slightly injured Union veteran Christian Gentner at halftime at DAZN. The guests got the better start after the break. Teuchert (55th) ran alone towards the Leverkusen goal, his finish was good, but the ball bounced off the inside post into the field.

On the other hand, things got most dangerous when Robert Andrich got his own goalkeeper Andreas Luthe into trouble with a back pass from close range (64th). Leverkusen now pushed for the leadership, which opened up freedom for Union. In the middle of the second half, the ex-Schalke Teuchert reappeared in front of the guests' goal, but forgave – he made it better very late.