Uproar in Berlin – game almost canceled at Union against Bochum

A lighter thrown at Bochum’s keeper almost caused the game to be abandoned in the Bundesliga game between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL. Bochum will appeal against the scoring of the game. Previously, VfL, who had been outnumbered for over 80 minutes, held the game 1-1 (1-1).

The game was in injury time when Patrick Drewes was hit by a lighter and fell to the ground. Referee Martin Petersen then interrupted the game and asked both teams into the dressing rooms.

He then brought together representatives from both clubs and the police to discuss whether “proper implementation” and the “Player safety” is guaranteed, Petersen told the sports show. Both clubs confirmed this to him: “That’s why we continued the game.”

Referee expert Wagner: “Referee behaved correctly”

ARD referee expert Lutz Wagner told Sportschau that he thought Petersen’s actions were correct: “The referee behaved correctly because he sent the teams into the locker room to give the security service the opportunity to control the situation. When the decision was then made to ensure the safety of everyone involved and the proper implementation, The game must be continued. Everything else is a matter for the DFB sports court.”

After an interruption of around 30 minutes, things continued and VfL Bochum now had striker Philipp Hofmann in goal – coach Dieter Hecking had already made changes in three substitution phases. Another change was no longer possible. Part-time goalkeeper Hofmann was not required, also because both teams had apparently agreed on a kind of “non-aggression pact”. They passed the ball from one teammate to another, sometimes even pushing it to an opposing player.

Bochum feels disadvantaged

Bochum later announced that goalkeeper Drewes was on the way to a hospital. “We’ll have him examined”Bochum’s coach Dieter Hecking told Sportschau: “We’ll have to wait and see.” The club will appeal against the scoring of the game. This will happen on Monday, managing director Ilja Kaenzig announced on “Sky”: “From our point of view, the referee should have stopped the game, but that didn’t happen.”

Union Berlin’s managing director Horst Heldt said in an interview with Sportschau that it was “the act of an individual.” But it is “No excuse. This shouldn’t happen.” The club found the culprit in the Union block. “The perpetrator was identified and handed over to the police. A complaint has already been filed”said Berlin’s press spokesman Christian Arbeit.

First chance for Union

Union Berlin had previously had a better start to the game. Woo-yeong Jeong had gained momentum on the right wing after just 20 seconds of play. His cross was found by Tim Skarke, who volleyed the ball over the goal from five meters.

Union was right in the game, VfL only ventured forward for the first time after ten minutes. Maximilian Wittek put pressure on the left side and brought Moritz Broschinski into play. The angular center forward had the ball on his left foot, didn’t hesitate for long, but his shot from 15 meters was missed by Union keeper Frederik Rönnow.

Bochum outnumbered early on

A little later there was a blow in the neck for VfL: Andrasch Schäfer was rudely knocked off his feet by Bochum’s Koji Miyoshi. Referee Pedersen didn’t hesitate and sent the Bochum player off with a red card (13th). Could things get any worse for the bottom of the table? Hardly.

What happened next was no surprise: Union got total field superiority. With one more man on the pitch, the host team generated almost constant possession of the ball. Bochum withdrew and waited for the opponent to make simple mistakes in the build-up of the game.

Union sleeps, Bochum scores

But in the 23rd minute, Bochum still took the lead: Felix Passlack had ventured forward from the right – but his cross from the half field was more like an act of desperation. No matter: Union’s defense had completely misjudged the action and allowed Ibrahima Sissoko to head it eight meters from the goal almost unhindered. Consequence: The long midfielder heaved the ball into the short corner to make it 0-1.

A setback for Union, which the Berliners overcame. They stuck with it. And after a good half hour they got the long-overdue equalizer. Robert Skov cleared Benedict Hollerbach 13 meters in front of the goal. He made a small sidestep and pushed the ball through Sissoko’s legs into the far corner to make it 1-1 – Bochum’s keeper Drewes had no chance (32′).

Bochum is fighting desperately

Union pushed, but VfL defended with passion. With the courage of despair, they threw themselves into every duel, into every cross and every shot from the Berliners. However, the score should have been 2-1 in stoppage time in the first half. Danilho Doekhi finished unchallenged from 16 meters – but thundered the ball over the crossbar.

Shortly after the restart, the Unioners would have liked to have received a penalty. Robert Skov had dropped in a duel in the Bochum penalty area and referee Petersen actually pointed to the spot. However, the referee reversed his penalty decision based on the camera images – and that was a good thing.

It was to be the last excitement for a long time. Then came stoppage time, in which a burst of fire hit Bochum’s goalkeeper Drewes.

Union Berlin in Bremen, Bochum against Heidenheim

Union Berlin will be away to Bremen next weekend (December 21st, 3:30 p.m.). The Bochum team have to play at home against Heidenheim a day later (3:30 p.m.).