Union Berlin celebrates a big home win against second-placed RB Leipzig and is happy about the realization: their own strikers can still score.
No Union striker had scored for nine match days, but things broke on Friday evening. Oliver Burke (57th), Ilyas Ansah (64th) and Tim Skarke (90th + 3) scored a 3-1 (0-0) win against RB Leipzig on matchday 14 of the Bundesliga. The 19-year-old Tidiam Gomis (60th) scored an equalizer for the guests.
Union coach Steffen Baumgart complained before the game that he was fine “on the balls”, that the strikers no longer score. After the striker’s three goals against Leipzig, he said on the Sportschau microphone: “Now the coach is happy.” Baumgart highlighted his team’s work ethic. “We didn’t succeed in everything. But in the end we defeated a very, very good team and scored the goals at the right moment.”
With the surprising and impressive victory, Berlin avoided their third league defeat in a row and gained breathing space towards the relegation places.
Ole Werner: “Deserved victory for Union”
Leipzig conceded a goal for the first time in three league games and their third defeat of the season. As second in the table, RB is still eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who could go even further ahead of bottom team Mainz 05 on Sunday (5:30 p.m.).
“It was an intense game that could have gone either way,” said Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner. His coach Ole Werner spoke about one in the first sports show “real fighting game” in a bad place and from a deserved victory for Union. “They were a bit physically superior in the crucial moments.”
Rönnow with two brilliant saves in one minute
The game began with the usual protest from Union fans against the RB Leipzig construct; it was only after 15 minutes that they started chanting. A balanced game developed on the pitch, the Berliners kept Leipzig’s offensive power well in check.
But you can’t completely switch off the RB attack, especially not Yan Domande. In the 17th minute he fought for the ball against Oliver Burke in midfield, shook off several opponents while sprinting and shot in the penalty area. Berlin’s Frederik Rönnow parried strongly.
Rönnow achieved the next brilliant feat with the following corner kick, reacting quickly after a header from Baumgartner.
Haberer surprised by his great opportunity
Leipzig’s strongest phase followed in the first half, without any further great chances. Union had their hands full defensively and finished too hastily offensively in several situations.
The hosts had a great opportunity to take the lead in stoppage time in the first half. Janik Haberer finished at the second post after a cross from the halffield, but he didn’t expect the ball to land at him without a deflect. Nevertheless, it was dangerous: the ball bounced off Haberer’s thigh towards the goal and missed it by just centimeters.
Burke with a nice goal
During the half-time break, numerous helpers were busy filling the many deep holes in the soggy grass. The bumpy surface naturally suited the defense artists from Berlin against the technically strong Leipzig team.
Union came out of the locker room with commitment and showed a playful highlight twelve minutes after the restart. After Kosta Nedeljkovic lost the ball, things happened quickly and Woo-yeong Jeong released Burke with a direct pass. The Scot let Castello Lukeba run into space with a hook and hit the left corner beautifully with his left.
Gomis scores for the first time in the Bundesliga
Just a minute later, the Berliners lost the ball with serious consequences. As a result, Conrad Harder saw that Gomis had a lot of space on the right side. The Frenchman had only been on the pitch for two minutes and scored his first Bundesliga goal with a powerful shot into the right corner.
Tidiam Gomis equalizes
Again it didn’t take long until the next hit. Union played pleasantly down the right side, substitute captain Christopher Trimmel crossed sharply and Ansah kept his head in the six-yard box.
Timo Werner came on, Skarke came on Premiere goal
Union was back in front – and fully in its element. The Berliners threw themselves into duels on the deep grass and made life difficult for Leipzig. The substitution of Timo Werner in stoppage time didn’t help the guests; the former national player was only in the squad for the third time this season.
Instead, the two substituted Union strikers also shone: Andrej Ilic won the ball and completed the counterattack with a well-considered pass to Skarke. He had only come into the game a few minutes earlier, scored well into the left corner and celebrated his redeeming first goal in the 55th competitive game for Union.
“It’s ultra-emotional for me,” Skarke told the sports show. “Scoring my first goal today means a lot to me. I’m grateful it happened.”
Union in Cologne, Leipzig against Leverkusen
Next matchday, Union will be guests at 1. FC Köln on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m.). Leipzig welcomes Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.).