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1. FC Union Berlin didn’t miss a great opportunity in the Bundesliga against VfL Bochum and reached the Europa League with a narrow win.
1. FC Union Berlin won on Saturday (May 14th, 2022) on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 3-2 against VfL Bochum and made participation in the Europa League perfect. Due to Freiburg’s defeat in Leverkusen, Union even jumped to fifth place.
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Thus, in their third season in the upper house, the Berliners surpassed the success of last year, when coach Urs Fischer’s team reached the Conference League. Promoted Bochum ended the season in a respectable 13th place.
Union dominant – but only in the first round
Grischa Prömel calmed the nerves of the Berliners in the long-distance duel with 1. FC Köln for a place in the Europa League with the early opening goal (5th minute). Even if there had been a draw in Berlin, Cologne could have overtaken them with a win in Stuttgart. But Taiwo Awoniyi sent Union on course for the Europa League with the second goal (25th) with a penalty even before the change.
Awoniyi makes Union cheer
Simon Zoller made the connection for Bochum after the change of sides and at the same time celebrated his goal comeback after a long injury break. After Eduard Löwen’s equalizer (79′), the Alte Försterei began to tremble – until Awoniyi (88′) made Union cheer with the 3-2 winner.
Prömel scores in the farewell game at the Alte Försterei
Union had to cope with several failures and, among other things, without Timo Baumgartl, who had ended the season prematurely due to testicular cancer. The team warmed up in red T-shirts with the number 25, the centre-back’s shirt number.
Before kick-off, Union also said goodbye to a quintet from his ranks to thunderous applause. In addition to Prömel, who will join TSG Hoffenheim, Jakob Busk, Bastian Oczipka, Anthony Ujah and Suleiman Abdullahi will leave the club. Especially Prömel was loudly celebrated by the fans. And the 27-year-old made the supporters cheer again shortly after the start of the game. After a cross from Genki Haraguchi, Prömel headed in from close range.
Union initially had the game under control. Bochum tried to find an answer, but found hardly any offensive solutions against concentrated defending Unioner.
Sheraldo Becker, who had previously stopped after two actions, finally had to be replaced due to injury. Sven Michel came on for the striker in the 19th minute, and he immediately scored a hand penalty for the hosts. Robert Tesche was shot in the arm by Michel. According to the video images, referee Marco Fritz pointed to the point, Awoniyi converted.
Nervous final phase after Bochum equalized
As a result, neither team was really dangerous at first. After the break, Bochum became a little more active and Zoller scored the goal with a header. Awoniyi missed the possible preliminary decision for Union and failed at Esser (66th), who also defused the subsequent corner.
Instead, Bochum equalized shortly before the end – and Berlin’s Europa League entry was in danger: Cologne only needed one goal in Stuttgart at this point to overtake Union. But Awoniyi’s winning goal shortly before the end removed all doubts – the “iron” made it to the goal on their own.
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