VfB Stuttgart continues to collect points in the relegation battle. At Union Berlin there was a 1: 1 (0: 1) – thanks to Sasa Kalajdzic.
Sasa Kalajdzic is still worth his weight in gold for VfB Stuttgart in the relegation battle: A week after his 3-2 winning goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the Austrian scored the goal (90th) to make it 1-1 (0-1) at Union Berlin – a another important point for the Swabians in the fight for remaining in the class.
“The draw is okay overall. We were initially impressed by Union’s tough game, in the second half we created a few chances to score. I’m just too happy,” Kalajdzic said on Sky.
The Austrian had hit the post of the Union goal five minutes before the equalizer and indicated his danger after he had barely appeared before. But when it mattered, he was there.
Accordingly, VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo slapped his lanky striker on the back after the final whistle and clenched his fist. “Fighting for a point like that is good for morale,” said the coach.
Union criticizes referee
However, the hosts were not satisfied with the outcome. Union’s Timo Baumgartl criticized the referee: “There was no line to be seen, we play men’s football and not youth football. But it’s not worth talking about the referee.”
Taiwo Awoniyi scored a hand penalty (41st) for the Berliners, who initially missed their targeted 40-point mark. The cup semi-finalists are still in the middle of the table with 38 points.
Due to the corona virus, Urs Fischer had to do without regular goalkeepers Andreas Luthe, Levin Öztunali, Genki Haraguchi and Kevin Behrens. The Union coach changed to five positions after the 0-1 draw in Wolfsburg, with Frederik Rönnow replacing Luthe in the iron goal. Matarazzo sent the same starting eleven as against Gladbach.
The hosts had the first degree. But Rani Khedira (3rd) put the shot wide of the goal to the left. Union set the tone in the early stages, but Stuttgart didn’t let that discourage them.
Union – VfB: For a long time, little came from Stuttgart
VfB increasingly tried to push forward as well, but neither team was really dangerous at first. Niko Gießelmann’s (27th) attempt was deflected over the goal by VfB keeper Florian Müller.
But Union was now more often in the offensive to train, Stuttgart, on the other hand, hardly in the opposing half. A goal by Awoniyi (37′) didn’t count because of offside, the shot by Baumgartl (38′) was no problem for goalkeeper Müller. A short time later, however, Awoniyi was successful from the point. The attacker safely converted the hand penalty caused by Konstantinos Mavropanos and gave Union a deserved lead.
Even after the break, there was little from Stuttgart at first, but the game got heated. Rönnow safely parried a free kick from Borna Sosa (51′). Otherwise, the guests rarely came in the direction of the opposing goal, but Union also had only a few opportunities.
Stuttgart used this phase of the game to pick up some speed, but initially failed several times due to Union defense. But Kalajdzic was reliable.
