Union Berlin has catapulted itself to the top. The Irons managed a 2-1 (1-0) against FSV Mainz 05, putting them ahead of Bayern Munich at least until Sunday.
“Leader, leader” and “take off the Bavarians’ Lederhosen” chanted the Union fans at the Alte Försterei. The Berlin professionals were enthusiastically celebrated after the hard-fought 2-1 (1-0) win against FSV Mainz 05. The supporters underlined loudly: “German champion is only the FCU!” The players danced to it.
Coach Urs Fischer meanwhile hugged his super joker Jordan Siebatcheu and hugged him tightly. The Swiss coach once again had the right nose and substituted Siebatcheu, who scored the winning goal five minutes later (84th).
“We’re enjoying the moment,” said Captain Christopher Trimmel on Sky, “we want to stay up there for as long as possible, but we’re not talking about the German champions.” In any case, the successful series of the capital club is already unbelievable.
“They’re not up there for nothing,” said FSV sports director Martin Schmidt. He did not fail to mention that his team was about to take a point from Köpenick and praised 1. FC Union: “They worked out the necessary luck in the game. But a 1-1 draw would have been deserved.”
In the table, the Irons passed record champions Bayern Munich for at least 26 hours, who can only intervene on Sunday evening at VfL Wolfsburg and are under a lot of pressure.
Union Berlin: No tiredness after Isco drama
Striker Kevin Behrens (32nd) had previously scored the lead for Köpenicker in the sold-out stadium An der Alten Försterei, ex-Unioner Marcus Ingvartsen equalized with a hand penalty after video evidence (79th). With 39 points, the Berliners have almost reached the 40-point goal that Fischer always cautiously formulated, and are increasingly becoming a serious championship candidate. Mainz, on the other hand, remains stuck in the gray midfield of the table.
Four days after the 2-1 victory in the cup against Wolves and the failed substitution of the Spanish dribbling artist Isco, there was hardly any fatigue at Union from the start, the Berliners were immediately the more active team and had a low shot from Jerome Roussillon (10th minute). .) the first chance of the game.
Coach Fischer, who according to his own statement is only interested in the table “after the 34th matchday”, saw a courageous performance from his team, which was rewarded in the 32nd minute: Paul Seguin found Behrens with his cross from the right , who extended the ball from a few meters into the goal one day after his 32nd birthday.
The guests from Mainz mainly concentrated on counterattacking, only after falling behind did Bo Svensson’s team become a little more active. Union was defensive but stable.
The game remained poor even after the change of ends, Roussillon (48th) tested FSV keeper Finn Dahmen with a shot from the second row. Union managed the narrow lead cleverly, Mainz lacked the clout a few days after the clear 0: 4 cup defeat against Bayern Munich.
The flow of the game suffered from many interruptions in the second half, but both teams continued to search for the way forward. After a handball from Seguin, Mainz came back into the game, but the Irons hit back.
Union Berlin vs. Mainz 05: The voices
Urs Fischer (Coach Union Berlin): “It was the tough game we expected, with a lot of tackles, a lot of fouls, a lot of long balls. The equalizer was unfortunate. The fact that my team came back shows their mentality and morale. But we couldn’t have said anything if the game had ended in a draw .”
Bo Svensson (FSV Mainz 05 coach): “It was the tight game we expected, with few chances for either side. Union was better in the first half, we were better in the second half. We deserved a point. One situation decided the game, which is very annoying for us . In the end, unfortunately, we go home with zero points.”
Union Berlin vs. Mainz 05: The dates of the game
Gates: 1: 0 Behrens (32nd), 1: 1 Ingvartsen (78th, penalty after video evidence), 2: 1 Siebatcheu (84th)
