Bitter bankruptcy in the constant rain: In the end, Union Berlin fought in vain


Bitter bankruptcy in the constant rain
In the end, Union Berlin fought in vain

For Union Berlin, the return to the European stage after 20 years of absence is a feast day. But in terms of sport, the trip to Prague ends bitterly for the Bundesliga club: For a long time they are outnumbered, and in the meantime they fight for an equalization, but in the end there are still two bitter goals against.

Christopher Trimmel and his colleagues stood in the center circle with drooping heads, perplexed. Then the captain led the disappointed Union Berlin players to the undaunted singing fans in the curve of the stadium. 1. FC Union was unable to continue its amazing invincible streak at the start of the group stage in the Conference League. At the Czech champions Slavia Prague, the Berlin Bundesliga club lost 1: 3 (0: 1) after being long outnumbered. Nevertheless, there was noisy consolation from the stands for several minutes.

The goals of Alexander Bah (18th minute), Jan Kuchta (84th) and Ivan Schranz (88th) ended a series of nine competitive games in three competitions without a defeat since mid-May. The interim equalization by Kevin Behrens (70th) was ultimately useless.

“We did really well in the second half in particular. The team deserved to equalize. In the end, you could feel that it took a lot of strength to play with ten men,” said Union coach Urs Fischer at Nitro . “The fans supported us like they did at a home game, but the team also tried everything,” added the Swiss. Max Kruse also recognized the support of the fans: “They would also celebrate us if we lost 5-0. Nevertheless, we wanted to take something with us, but Slavia’s victory was deserved.”

“We are all looking forward to it”

After the yellow-red card for Paul Jaeckel (40th), Union fought for more than 50 minutes on the grass softened by the constant rain – too big a mortgage. After the false start in Group E of the new European Cup, a win must now be in the first home game against Maccabi Haifa in two weeks, so that the chance of getting into the knockout phase does not quickly lose sight of the field. A good 3,000 Union fans in the Sinobo Stadium with the no less enthusiastic Slavia supporters ensured an atmosphere that was absolutely worthy of the European Cup.

“I think it is important that what we do is fun. And we are all looking forward to it,” said club boss Dirk Zingler at Nitro before kick-off about the still good Union mood. Palpation was therefore not the thing to do. And Union could quickly take the hosts by surprise. Genki Haraguchi and Max Kruse (3rd) lacked the necessary precision in the end in the best position. Slavia quickly found its way back to normal. Berlin goalkeeper Andreas Luthe had to intervene courageously for the first time when Lukas Masopust (12th) shot.

Late double response to the Union comeback

The early yellow cards against Jaeckel (6th) and Taiwo Awoniyi (15th) by the petty whistling Portuguese referee Fabio Verissimo noticeably irritated the iron. Suddenly the tension and concentration decreased. And Prague punished this lack of international cleverness coldly. Bah’s long-range shot after a corner hit flat in the corner of the goal.

Now the Berliners ran behind in most of the duels. And when Jaeckel had to foul tactically in midfield, the dismissal was inevitable. Annoying: Shortly before, Kruse (31st) had finally made it into the Slavia penalty area on his own, but decided to play Awoniyi, who slipped past the ball.

When outnumbered, more defensive order was required. Nevertheless, Union still had opportunities for quick counterattacks. Rani Khedira (55th) shot past the goal. Awoniyi (58th) was offside for a goal and refused to admit it. Behrens then struck on a counterattack, but that did not save the series of the Iron, because Slavia had the double answer from Kuchta and Schranz late.

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