1. FC Union Berlin put a lot of effort into preventing another surprise from cup shock Arminia Bielefeld.
The Eisernen prevailed against the sensational finalists of the previous season with 2:1 (1:1, 1:1) after extra time and trembled to take revenge for the 0:2 disaster in the second round exactly a year ago in East Westphalia.
Leopold Querfeld (11th minute) and Danilo Doekhi (106th) scored the goals for the hosts in the stadium at the Alte Försterei, which was sold out with 22,012 spectators, and thus made it into the round of 16 of the DFB Cup. Monju Momulu (27th minute) equalized for Bielefeld.
Union scores in the majority
To another surprise for Arminia, who knocked Werder Bremen out of the competition in the first round for the second time in a year, it wasn’t enough despite a lot of commitment and passion. When Doekhi scored, the visitors were outnumbered as they were unable to make substitutions following Marvin Mehlem’s injury.
Five months after the 2:4 in the final against VfB Stuttgart in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, Bielefeld’s cup exit came four rounds earlier and a few kilometers southeast, also in the capital.
In the duel of coaching buddies between Union’s Steffen Baumgart and Arminia’s Mitch Kniat, there was no friendly waiting. Tactics don’t count for the Iron Men anyway, and the Bielefeld team also played courageously forward. However, the East Westphalians quickly noticed a Union specialty. A high free kick cross from Christopher Trimmel headed crossfield into the goal.
The Austrian co-production took away Bielefeld’s initial momentum. But what coach Baumgart didn’t like was that the Union players settled into a comfortable game at a moderate pace. When Mael Corboz released the nimble Momuluh, goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow didn’t look good and the header rolled into the goal to equalize.
Arminia Bielefeld with better chances
Arminia were running faster and could have even taken the lead through Noah Sarenren Bazee (28th/33rd). Union should have been warned that carelessness against Bielefeld could lead to an unpleasant surprise.
Baumgart’s halftime words seemed to have an effect. Tom Rothe had an early header chance after the break (47th). But the game remained open. Again Bielefeld’s Sarenren Bazee (56th) came close to scoring the opening goal when he hit the post from close range. Since Jonas Kersken made a reflex save against Doekhi (90′), the game went into extra time. But the Bielefeld goalkeeper was powerless against the Dutchman’s powerful shot.