Thursday, August 26, 2021
Berlin plays the Conference League
Only the Union fans burn off fireworks
1. FC Union Berlin is the first German participant in the new UEFA Conference League. After the clear victory in the first leg at Kuopion PS, the irony are enough this time to make a solid appearance. Instead, the fans in the unfamiliar Olympic Stadium provide a smoking spectacle.
Red party in the “living room” of the Blauen: Union Berlin has made the greatest international success in club history perfect in the Hertha home cities, Olympiastadion. In the playoff second leg against the Finnish cup winners Kuopion PS, the Iron handed a 0-0 to qualify for the group stage of the new Conference League after the 4-0 away win a week ago.
While the game on the grass remained largely unspectacular, the 22,159 Union fans in the stands provided plenty of European Cup flair. For the supporters of city rival Hertha BSC, who, despite many millions of investors, had recently missed the European Cup goal by a long way, the evening should have been a little humiliation.
Union had dipped the Olympic Stadium in red and white for its “bowl game”. The arena was illuminated in the club’s colors, Union flags were hoisted on the roof, red fan shirts were distributed to all visitors and even the famous blue tartan track, on which Usain Bolt once sprinted to two world records, was covered. Union’s home stadium “Alte Försterei” does not meet the UEFA requirements.
Despite all the party atmosphere, the move across the capital, forced by UEFA because of the insufficient seating capacity in its own stadium at the Alte Försterei, was criticized by the Union fans who were crowded in the main stand and back straight despite the corona distance rules, even during the game .
“We need the Alte Försterei like the air we have to live,” said a poster. “A European Cup for everyone, but why do the small clubs always have to play away from home” and “Lots of standing room, few seats. You call it a problem, we call it football” was an English translation on other banners. Clear addressee: UEFA. The should react to the pyro show performed by the fans at the beginning of the second half with a fine for the club.
Despite the reassuring lead, coach Urs Fischer decided against a large rotation, and only goal-scorer Max Kruse was given a break from the undisputed regular players. With that, the storm duo Kruse / Taiwo Awoniyi, which had been so splendidly harmonizing recently, was blown up – but the Nigerian liked even without his congenial partner.
With his force and speed, Awoniyi was a constant source of unrest in the defense of the guests, who – contrary to what the first leg result suggested – did not seek their salvation on the offensive. That was also due to the Berliners, who deliberately relied on possession of the ball and tried to control the game. Union also had better chances thanks to Awoniyi (8th and 44th), Robin Knoche (14th), Tymoteusz Puchacz (61st) and Cedric Teuchert (74th).
Which opponents the Köpenickers will meet in the group phase from mid-September will be determined by the draw on Friday (1.30 p.m. / CEST) in Istanbul. The premiere winner will be determined in the final on May 22nd in Albania’s capital Tirana and rewarded with an automatic group start right for the Europa League 2022/23.
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