3:1 against Mainz! Finally goals and points again. The Irons couldn’t have picked a better moment to get back on track. Tuesday (8.45 p.m. / ARD and Sky live) is in the quarterfinals of the cup against second division St. Pauli. The road to the final is short and possible.
The first success after three games without a goal gives Union hope three times to move back into the semi-finals after 21 years.
► home strength! It is the foundation for Union’s success in recent years. Against Mainz there was the seventh win in the twelfth game of the season in front of 10,000 spectators. The duel against St. Pauli is only the third cup home game in the past ten years. Even if Hamburg is a candidate for promotion: Union could have been hit harder in the draw.
► Awoniyi is back! The Nigerian had been waiting for his tenth goal of the season since matchday 14. It works again against Mainz. The attacker came as a joker. Coach Urs Fischer (56) on this measure: Awoniyi: “I wanted to take the pressure off Taiwo. He had a dry spell, it came out a bit from the gut. The goal was also important for his self-confidence.” Union’s top scorer is again a candidate for the starting XI against St. Pauli.
► Becker makes the difference! With Max Kruse (33 / Wolfsburg), the Köpenickers lost their difference player. But Sheraldo Becker (27) showed with his dream goal to make it 2-0 and his assist to Awoniyi that he can also make the difference. Like in the last successful home game before Mainz against Hoffenheim (2-1) in mid-January, when the native Dutchman provided the win as a joker.
With a strong Becker, an accurate Awoniyi and 10,000 (including over 9,000 Unioners) in the Försterei fortress, the semi-finals of the cup are possible!
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