16th matchday
Union above the line at Christmas – Baumgart wobbles
The players of 1. FC Union Berlin cheer after the 2-0 win. photo
© Andreas Gora/dpa
Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart is celebrated by Union Berlin fans. But he has to accept the next blow in the neck at his old place of work. Uncomfortable holidays are coming.
With force and goal instinct, Benedict Hollerbach saved 1. FC Union Berlin from falling into a relegation zone and the situation of Steffen Baumgart was further intensified as coach at 1. FC Köln.
In the last game before the short Christmas break, the offensive man, after an individual performance, put the Iron team on the road to victory with his goal in the 56th minute against Cologne, who had previously dominated the game. David Fofana (78th), who was recently retired by new coach Nenad Bjelica, made the decision in the happy 2-0 (0-0) in front of 22,012 spectators in the sold-out stadium at the Alte Försterei.
Thanks to the second home win under Bjelica, Union is 15th in the table. during the short Christmas break of the Bundesliga. Cologne slipped to 17th place and is facing restless holidays. Union legend Baumgart had to accept another setback at his old place of work. But Berliners shouldn’t be blinded by the success either. Staying in the league remains a tough job in this situation.
Union coach Bjelica bravely introduced himself to referee Deniz Aytekin on the sidelines shortly before kick-off with a handshake. The Croatian likes good behavior. There were correspondingly many rumors about the absence of star striker Sheraldo Becker from the squad. Discipline, form or just fitness? What was missing? Bjelica had already made an example of Fofana. Guest coach Baumgart obviously also saw the need for change: five starting eleven changes after the 2-0 loss in Freiburg as a sign of hope for new impulses.
Football in the highest caution category
After their twelve-minute silent protest against the DFL and its investor plan, both fan camps had to realize that the relegation battle is also a question of patience. The fear of the devil of errors ensured football was in the highest caution category. After 38 minutes, Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow had to reach for a ball for the first time when Denis Huseinbasic shot in the penalty area.
Things got even more tricky when Rönnow had to clear twice against Huseinbasic and Jan Uwe Thielemann (43′). Cologne goalkeeper Schwäbe, however, was primarily paid for his presence in the first half.
After the break, Bjelica brought in striker Fofana, who had recently been retired due to a lack of hard work in training, for the still hapless Kevin Behrens. The focus was once again on Rönnow, who was just able to defuse a header from Cologne’s ex-Herthan player Davie Selke (49′).
Hollerbach didn’t seem to like this way the game was going. He energetically penetrated the Cologne penalty area and hit the ball into the corner. A lucky lead for the Berliners, which Hollerbach almost increased a minute later, but Schwäbe dived in time for the save. The Cologne keeper saved several times from Berlin’s counterattack opportunities. But he was powerless against Fofana’s shot from a tight angle.