1. FC Union Berlin is in the group stage of the new Conference League. In the Olympic Stadium, where the main city rivals Hertha BSC usually play, coach Urs Fischer’s team scored 0-0 in the playoff second leg against Kuopio PS from Finland in front of 22,159 spectators on Thursday end. Union won the first leg 4-0. Who it is against in the group stage, the club will find out from the draw this Friday in Istanbul.
Union could not play in its own stadium at the Alte Försterei because of the insufficient seating capacity according to UEFA regulations and had to switch to the Olympic Stadium, which was criticized by the Union fans with banners. “Lots of standing room, little seats. You call it a problem, we call it football” read a banner in English.
With the exception of Kruse, the best line-up from Berlin controlled the game and had the best chances of the early stages with headers from Taiwo Awoniyi (7th minute) and Robin Knoche (13th). Awoniyi (44th) moved freely in front of the goal of the Finns shortly before the break. In the second half, too, the conclusion was too careless. Tymoteusz Puchacz (61st) shot over the goal from an acute angle. Marvin Friedrich (67th) could not use a header for the lead. Kevin Behrens (73rd) tried it artistically with an overhead kick.