Union Berlin dropped two points in the fight for a place in the Champions League. Against 1. FC Köln it was only enough for a zero number.
After the points were shared, Urs Fischer and Steffen Baumgart shook hands, ran linked to the center circle and chatted animatedly about the goalless draw: Baumgart, of all people, had his heart club Union Berlin in the race for the Champions League qualification posed and stole two points. With 1. FC Köln, the coach and ex-Unioner earned a point in Berlin on Saturday and put the brakes on the negative trend after the last two defeats.
There was even a win for the Rhinelanders, but Union keeper Frederik Rönnow was on the post several times, once even with one hand. “Luckily I had the right hand on the ball,” said the Dane on Sky, but also criticized the idea: “In the second half we lost too many balls and had no rhythm.”
Despite the second Bundesliga home game, the Berliners are holding their own in the top group of the Bundesliga without scoring a goal. Cologne is in the secure midfield. “We had better chances and could have won,” said Cologne’s Florian Kainz. Timo Hübers added: “There were a lot of long balls and a lot of duels, so it was 0-0.”
For FC coach Baumgart, the trip to his former club in Berlin was special. “Of course the game at Union is special for me. I still have an apartment in Köpenick,” said the two-time “Unioner of the Year” (2003 and 2004) in advance. The Berlin audience received him with applause.
Rönnow secures the point for Union
What Baumgart saw after kick-off on the freshly laid lawn, on the other hand, he initially found much less appealing. Union started energetically, immediately built up pressure and provoked mistakes from Cologne. Kevin Behrens fought for the ball in a duel with Florian Kainz, but then aimed too centrally from around 16 meters (4th).
Cologne survived the Berlin initial offensive unscathed. The FC defense safely defended long balls to Union target players around Behrens, in the center both teams neutralized each other in a battle-focused duel. Nevertheless, gaps opened up. Dejan Ljubicic finished in the penalty area after a good counterattack by Cologne. The Austrian aimed just wide (19th).
Highlights like this were a rarity in the first half. Union and Cologne could hardly get through against the well-organized defensive rows, and standards also fizzled out. Union played isolated advances over the fast Sheraldo Becker unclean.
After the break, both sides increased the tempo and found their way into the last third more often. Union’s Josip Juranovic (49′) failed first, then Cologne’s Linton Maina (50′) twisted after a counterattack from close range.
Cologne gained great advantages, also because unusual mistakes crept in in Berlin’s game structure. The hosts could rely on Rönnow. The goalkeeper exuded great security and kept Union in the game. Against Kainz (59th) and Jonas Hector (66th) he parried worth seeing.
Union Berlin – 1. FC Köln: The votes for the game
Urs Fischer (Trainer Union Berlin): “I thought the game was balanced. There were two teams that invested a lot. Cologne was a bit more dangerous. There were phases in the second half when we begged for a goal. We can thank our goalkeeper for that he kept us in the game. I’m happy with that point.”
Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “It was a very even game. I’m happy with the point, we worked hard to earn it.”
Union Berlin – 1. FC Cologne: The data for the game
Union: Rönnow – Doekhi, Knoche, Leite – Trimmel, Khedira, Juranovic – Haberer (69. Seguin), Laidouni (81. Thorsby) – Becker (90. Michel), Behrens (69. Jordan). – Coach: Fisherman
Köln: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector – Skhiri, Martel – Maina (86 Adamyan), Ljubicic (90 + 2 Lemperle), Kainz (84 Olesen) – Tigges. – Trainer: Baumgart
referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)
Tore: –
Viewers: 22.012 (sold out)
yellow cards: Jordan (3) –