Next Saturday the traditional Christmas singing will take place in the An der Alten Försterei stadium of 1. FC Union Berlin. It will take place in a state of relative bliss. After a semester to forget, the Köpenick team managed to end the year by defeating 1. FC Köln – and thus a direct competitor in the fight against relegation – 2-0 on Wednesday evening. The victory, which is likely to intensify the discussions on the Rhine about Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart, in no way hides the fact that the season threatens to be extremely long for the Union team. The performance up to the lead by Benedict Hollerbach (56th) and the subsequent goal to make the final score 2-0 by David Fofana was far too debatable. The best news of the evening from Union’s perspective: The buffer against the relegation places will be three points at the turn of the year.
The game began in a silent film atmosphere. In protest against the decision of the German Football League (DFL) to open itself up to a foreign investor, the spectators organized a twelve-minute boycott. The silent film that they saw on the pitch, especially at the beginning of the game, was again similar to works from the trash genre. This was partly due to the fact that Union left the ball and the initiative to the Cologne guests – although it was not entirely clear whether this was an act of pre-Christmas generosity or a particularly perfidious attempt to wear down the opponent by demonstrating their inadequacies. After half an hour, Cologne’s possession of the ball was around 60 percent. But they didn’t develop a real idea.
They only had their first chance in the 38th minute when Denis Huseinbasic shot in the penalty area but was unable to put any pressure on the ball. Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow dived and deflected the ball to the side. Five minutes later, Rönnow was there again against Huseinbasic, this time with a shot from distance. Rönnow was also able to parry Jan Thielmann’s follow-up shot.
Union even had problems getting into duels against Cologne
And Union? Was a shadow of its former self. The former compactness existed throughout the first half merely as a memory of a distant past. This was evidenced by the blatant problems with even getting into duels – once a parade discipline for Köpenick. This time it was a mockery of the martial slogan that the Ultras Unions had written on a banner and held up on the forest side of the stadium before the game began: “Use all force – stay in the league.”
At best, the Unioners could be credited with the fact that their nerves had suffered after the dramatic failures of the last semester. It didn’t help that Union coach Nenad Bjelica seemed to have found a starting eleven. Compared to the weekend’s defeat at VfL Bochum – a 3-0 disaster – he only made one change: striker Sheraldo Becker, who is considered a possible entry from Eintracht Frankfurt, was not in the squad. Andras Schäfer played for him.
Benedict Hollerbach celebrates his 1-0 for Union.
(Photo: Michael Taeger/Jan Huebner/Imago)
However, Bjelica reacted in the second half. Chelsea loanee David Fofana came in for the newly hapless Kevin Behrens. But before he could properly present himself, Rönnow was called upon again. After a cross from Thielmann, Davie Selke shot a really complicated header – Rönnow made a spectacular save (51′). Only then did the alarm clock ring in the Alte Försterei – in the form of the opening goal from Hollerbach (56th).
It was a goal that wasn’t even remotely hinted at – among other things because Hollerbach hadn’t actually brought anything to the table other than speed. But when Volland had claimed the ball on the left a few times and passed it into the penalty area, 22-year-old Hollerbach was there. He duped his guard with a simple physical illusion and drove the ball under the crossbar from close range and at an acute angle.
Bjelica insisted on strengthening the defense
Shortly afterwards, Hollerbach not only had another chance – but also celebration band. Bjelica insisted on strengthening the defense. He substituted Christopher Trimmel, Alex Kral and also Leonardo Bonucci. The result was striking. Because Union had chances through counterattacks, first through Josip Juranovic (71′), then through Kral and Volland (72′), and finally through Fofana (76′). Now it was Cologne keeper Marvin Schwäbe who came into focus with good saves. In the 78th minute, however, he was powerless against Fofana: The Ivorian received a ball from Juranovic on the right side that was played straight into his path – and placed it from the right corner of the six-yard box into the right angle. The rest was just Cologne melancholy.