Union Berlin won for the first time after Max Kruse left. Sheraldo Becker was convincing in the 3-1 win over FSV Mainz 05.
The relieved Union Berlin players went on the lap of honor with the mascot and celebrated cautiously hand in hand with La Ola in front of their fans. The most important finding after the 3:1 (1:0) against FSV Mainz 05: It is also possible without the attacker Max Kruse who has migrated.
“The last few weeks have been very tough. But we haven’t lost faith in ourselves,” said the strong Sheraldo Becker. “We have a goal for this season and we can still achieve it,” added Taiwo Awoniyi.
Genki Haraguchi (8th), Becker with a remarkable flick (56th) and substitute Awoniyi (75th) scored the goals for the Union, who again passed Mainz in the table.
Disputed hit is awarded
After the yellow-red card for Dominik Kohr (60th), FSV had to play outnumbered for around half an hour. Delano Burgzorg’s goal (90′) came far too late. With the victory, the Berlin team of coach Urs Fischer gained new self-confidence for the cup quarter-finals next Tuesday against second division club FC St. Pauli.
Fischer made five changes to his starting XI compared to the recent defeat at Arminia Bielefeld. Among other things, top striker Awoniyi had to be content with a bench seat for more than an hour, instead Andreas Voglsammer started as a striker.
Mainz instead played with the eleven that had defeated Bayer Leverkusen the previous week – but Mainz also quickly found themselves behind. When Haraguchi scored, which referee Bastian Dankert only gave after a video study because of a possible offside position, the FSV defense was not particularly clever.
“100 question marks”: Schmidt complains about Union leadership
“When I see this, I ask myself 100 question marks as to why it won’t be taken back,” said Mainz sporting director Martin Schmidt at half-time sky and complained that Prömel was “clearly offside”. “It doesn’t matter if I’m standing or prone, I’m in the goalkeeper’s field of vision. It’s a clear offside goal that should be taken back.”
As a result, the guests tried it mainly with duel toughness, but the Union held against it. So a little respectable game developed between the penalty areas, with many fouls and few chances. Mainz found it difficult to find playful solutions against the attentive Union defense. Danger usually only came up after standard situations.
Even after the change of sides, playful highlights were in short supply. No team could be blamed in terms of commitment and joy in running, but the flow of the game hardly developed. The beautiful goal to make it 2-0 by Becker, who had taken heart from 20 meters out, was more of a one-off result. Awoniyi made the decision, Becker had prepared.
