23rd matchday
Heidenheim prevents Union record: draw in Berlin
Union’s Benedict Hollerbach (l) in a duel with Patrick Mainka from 1. FC Heidenheim. photo
© Andreas Gora/dpa
Union Berlin remains unbeaten at home under coach Bjelica. However, the Iron Men missed out on setting a club record against Heidenheim. The newcomer can defend its three-point lead.
1. FC Heidenheim has reinforced its image as a cheeky newcomer and denied Union Berlin a club record. Nikola Dovedan (3rd minute) with a lightning goal and Jan-Niklas Beste (71st) with a fine lob scored the goals for Heidenheim made it 2:2 (1:2) in the stadium at the Alten Försterei.
Thanks to goals from Robin Gosens (44th) and Andras Schäfer (45th + 2), the capital club was already on the way to its fifth home win in a row – an unrivaled series for Union in the Bundesliga.
Thanks to the draw, Heidenheim maintained a three-point lead over the Iron Men and, with 28 points, can now look forward to the final spurt of the season relatively calmly after ten games with only one defeat. Union remains stuck in the bottom half of the table with 25 points and cannot yet relax in the relegation battle.
Garland of tennis balls
The Union fans had hung a garland of tennis balls on their stands like a victorious wreath as a reminder of the successful protest against the DFL’s investor plans. The birthday song for captain Christopher Trimmel (37), which was sung collectively before kick-off, had just faded away, but all of the Köpenickers’ celebrations were over. An unsuccessful header from Kevin Vogt served as the perfect assist for Heidenheim’s Dovedan for his first Bundesliga goal.
There had not been a deficit in the four home games under coach Nenad Bjelica, all of which were victorious. At first there was little going on offensively for the Union team. After half an hour, Brenden Aaronson attempted a solo, but naively got stuck in the Heidenheim defense. Previously, Beste (24th) could have increased the score on a counterattack for the guests, but he hesitated for too long and was blocked by Josip Juranovic.
Gosens hits and sees yellow
A half-time deficit seemed realistic for the Berliners. Then the people of Heidenheim suddenly and involuntarily retaliated with gifts. A harmless free-kick cross from Juranovic allowed three guest players to pass unnecessarily, Patrick Mainka set up for Gosens as he fell, who only had to push in. Annoying for the national player: After a challenge against Dovedan, he received his fifth yellow card and will miss the next week against Borussia Dortmund.
Shortly after the equalizer, Tim Kleindienst made an unbelievable bad pass in midfield. Schäfer happily accepted the ball and, with the help of Aaronson’s back, shot in to give the Union the lead. To Bjelica’s dismay, after a lively start to the second half, it was more or less actively managed – and ultimately wasted. During a counterattack, Beste saw Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow, who was too far in front of his goal, and shot in to equalize.