Union Berlin’s journey in the Europa League is not over yet. After a 1-0 home win against Braga, the Berliners now have it in their own hands to reach the second round. A hand penalty after video evidence was decisive for this.
1. FC Union Berlin kept the chance of progressing in the Europa League. In the stadium at the Alte Försterei they won 1-0 (0-0) against Sporting Braga and thus overtook the Portuguese in Group D. In the last game of the group stage, the Köpenickers have it in their own hands next week to defend second place and make it into the second round.
Losing forbidden in the fight for advancement
On the penultimate day of Europa League Group D, Union Berlin hosts Sporting Braga on Thursday. In the race for progress, a win against the strong Portuguese is almost a must for the people from Köpenick. By Luke Wittemore
1st half: Union starts powerfully
Fueled by an impressive choreography and goosebumps in the sold-out stadium at the Alte Försterei, 1. FC Union started the game against Braga with a lot of pressure. The first few minutes belonged to the hosts, who repeatedly launched quick attacks on the opposing goal via the right wing, but apart from a header by Morten Thorsby (2nd), they didn’t come up with any dangerous shots at first. The accuracy of the last pass was often lacking.
After the early stages, the game calmed down a bit and there was expected tight play between the two teams, which are very similar in their tactical orientation. Both Braga and Union were compact at the back and narrowed the spaces. Although the Portuguese had more possession of the ball, they didn’t know what to do with it and initially remained completely harmless. Sporting only had their first really good chance in the 36th minute, when Abel Ruiz shot the ball just wide of the left post from a inside right position.
Coach Urs Fischer’s team, who played passively for long stretches, seemed to wake up a bit in the closing stages of the first half and put the pressure back on. A volley from Sheraldo Becker (38′) saved by the Braga keeper and a header from Christopher Trimmel over the goal (40′) didn’t ensure the lead before the break.
2nd half: hand penalty after video evidence
1. FC Union started the second half of the game with a fresh man. Hungarian Andras Schäfer replaced Thorsby in midfield, who was suffering from a yellow card. And again they showed themselves to be powerful at the beginning, but still too imprecise to really cause problems for the Sporting goalkeeper Matheus.
Just like in the first half, the Portuguese were the much more active team after that and now they got into really good final positions. Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow first parried a shot from Fabiano confidently (57th) and then intercepted a cross just in time before Braga striker Vitinha could get to it.
Just when it seemed to be getting tighter for Union at the back, the video evidence provided the redeeming lead. After a cross from Janik Haberer, the ball bounced onto the arm of Sporting defender Fabiano. Referee Stuart Attwell watched the scene on the touchline again and, after studying the video, decided on a penalty. As in the last Europa League game against Malmö, Robin Knoche went for the points and safely turned the ball into the left corner to take the lead 1-0 (68′).
The goal acted as a wake-up call for the Berliners, who then took complete control of the game and became much more offensive. As a result, there were still chances to increase the lead and thus put yourself in an even better starting position for progress. In the end, however, it remained a narrow 1-0 victory.
Broadcast: rbb24, October 27, 2022, 9:45 p.m
