The game of the year in the capital goes to 1. FC Union. The red-whites from Köpenick also win the cup round of 16 in the Olympic Stadium near Hertha 3:2 (1:0).
By Sebastian Karkos and Paul Gorgas
The Irons had already won 2-0 against the Blue and Whites in the Bundesliga two months ago. Union is number 1 in Berlin! The Köpenickers collect one million euros for moving into the quarter-finals of the cup. A great gift for the Iron Ones who are celebrating their 56th birthday today.
Right from the start, the 3,000 participants in the Olympic Stadium were amazed not only by the new lawn (cost: 160,000 euros), which is more yellow than green, but also by the courageous guests who immediately dominated.
11 minutes: A Kruse cross from the left raises Union striker Andreas Voglsammer artistically with a long leg as an arc lamp over Hertha goalkeeper Schwolow into the far corner. 1:0 for the Iron!
The derby hammer from Voglsammer!
Union managing director Oliver Ruhnert cheers on Sky: “We showed right away that we wanted to be active. Then we scored a super goal. He wanted that too. It’s amazing that it works out like that.”
The Union fans sing: “Berlin, Berlin, we’re going to Berlin.” This means the cup final on May 21, right here in the Olympic Stadium. Now only two victories are missing to the final. And with the opponents, including many second division teams, a possible cup victory is closer and easier than it has been for a long time.
32 minutes: Again Voglsammer in focus. He shoots Hertha’s Niklas Stark in the hand, referee Aytekin only whistles a penalty for Union. But the video cellar explains minutes later that Voglsammer is said to have been offside with his shoulder. Ruhnert critically: “Phew, someone must have dissected me exactly. Where does the hand begin, where the shoulder?”
After the break, the next Hertha shocker follows! An Öztunali cross hit Stark with his knee to make it 2-0 into his own net (50′).
You can read all the details about the game here in the BZ live ticker!
Hertha defends briefly, Serdar scores to make it 1:2 (54th) because Union’s Khedira deflects unluckily. The Irons are much tougher than Hertha that day and in return increase to 1: 3 (55th) through Knoche.
Now there is dead silence among Hertha fans and Union fans are singing: “The FCU rules here!”
That must be a stab in the Hertha heart for Hertha manager Fredi Bobic (50). Before kick-off, he had announced in a good mood on ARD: “This is the biggest club and number one in Berlin. In terms of sport, we had to give the rounds to the Reds in the last two years. We have to work hard to achieve this status again in reality.”
But Hertha wakes up too late. Serdar maneuvered a rebound in the very last minute to make it 3-2 (90+4). Too late.
As almost always, the dream of the cup burst too early, in the league it’s only a relegation battle and the number 1 in the city is now clearly Union! Hertha fans roar: “We’re fed up
fully.”
World champion Bastian Schweinsteiger (37) predicted it as an ARD expert: “Union is the clear favorite for me. Of course, it would be crazy for both Berlin teams to reach the final in Berlin. I’m leaning more towards Union than Hertha.”
Is correct! And now only two wins are missing…
.
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