The Union Berlin footballers played 1-1 against Hamburger SV. It was the Berliners’ first point win after four competitive defeats in a row. However, there was significantly more to it.
- The 1-1 was Union’s first point win after four competitive defeats in a row
- Currently eight points ahead of the relegation places
- Union’s strikers miss many scoring opportunities
At the start of the eleventh matchday of the Bundesliga, the footballers from Union Berlin played 1:1 (0:0) in the home game against fellow promoted team Hamburger SV.
The goals were scored on Friday evening by Sophie Weidauer for Union (61st) and Sophie Hillebrand (85th). The hosts missed many good scoring opportunities.
With eleven points, the Köpenickers are in eleventh place in the table ahead of the remaining games of the weekend – eight points ahead of the first relegation place.
The course of the game
There was immediately a lot of speed in the game. Both teams looked for a direct route forward after winning the ball. However, both teams initially lacked accuracy. Union only had their first good opportunity in the 29th minute. But Eileen Campbell’s effort went just over the goal.
Four minutes later, the 25-year-old Austrian missed the ball while almost standing in front of the Hamburg goal. HSV goalkeeper Larissa Haidner was able to parry Sophie Weidauer’s good follow-up shot. In the 40th minute she reacted brilliantly again. A very good free kick from Campbell would otherwise have given Union the lead.
The second half went goalless and nothing changed in the game. Union pushed, but repeatedly failed because of Hamburg’s goalkeeper. For Weidauer in particular, there just seemed to be no way around it. Despite the best chances like in the 47th and 52nd minutes.
Nine minutes later the spell seemed to be broken. After Campbell’s shot was parried, Weidauer put the follow-up shot into the goal from five meters against Haidner, who was powerless this time, to take the lead. Union also had good scoring opportunities afterwards. Above all, Campbell, who shot next to the goal in the 80th minute. A negligence that should take revenge. After Campbell’s handball in his own penalty area, Hamburg’s Sophie Hillebrand safely converted the penalty to make the final score 1-1.
Hamburg’s goalkeeper Larissa Haidner (r.) celebrates.
Player of the game
If you looked at the world solely from a Union perspective, the choice for player of the game would fall on either Eileen Campbell or Sophie Weidauer. The two strikers show a lot of quality. Campbell, above all, through her speed, her determination and her feeling for free space. Weidauer mainly due to many good passes. But there was one big but that evening at the Alte Försterei: the exploitation of opportunities. Despite all the positive aspects, the two simply should have scored more than just one goal.
As it is, Hamburg’s goalkeeper Larissa Haidner was chosen as player of the game, as she played flawlessly and kept her team in the game in the first place.
What was going on there?
How eager Union’s players were to make amends after four defeats in a row was evident even before the game had even started. Because exactly that, the kick-off by HSV, had to be repeated. On their first attempt, the Berliners rushed into the opponent’s half.
Countable
- Shots on goal: Union nine, Hamburg one
- Saves by goalkeepers: Union zero, Hamburg eight
- Crosses arrived: Union 23 percent, Hamburg zero percent
Broadcast: rbb|24, November 21, 2025, 10 p.m
