By Sebastian Karkos and Matthias Koch
Union extends its lead in the table! The Irons are the only top team to win this weekend. Paul Jaeckel scored the decisive 1:0 after a Gießelmann corner in the 76th minute.
Union is the lone leader, two points ahead of Freiburg. Whoever wins such games can dream big…
Union Berlin celebrates 1-0 at VfB Stuttgart through Paul Jaeckel Photo: REUTERS/Andreas Gebert
Coach Urs Fischer made three changes to the Irons after the 1-0 win in Malmö: Jaeckel, Niko Gießelmann and Genki Haraguchi came in for Diogo Leite, captain Christopher Trimmel and Janik Haberer.
The latter is even spared, stay in Berlin.
Fischer made it clear before kick-off: “We can’t afford to play ten or 15 minutes in slow motion.”
His players don’t. Still, it’s not really good. It’s the Swabians who have the first chance.
Frederik Rönnow fishes a Zagadou attempt just off the line (15th). The Dane also fends off Ito’s free kick to the side (26′). Fischer is dissatisfied, keeps shouting from the outside. And the winless VfB almost take the lead, but Guirassy’s header just misses (35′) – lucky for Union!
Union keeper Frederik Rönnow saves against VfB Stuttgart Photo: Mathias Renner/City Press
Only immediately before the half-time whistle does it finally become dangerous for Union. Jaeckel checks VfB keeper Müller with a header (45th). It can only get better after the break – but it won’t. The forces are fading.
About Union still has the golden goal through Jaeckel. That’s enough for a top team.
Union’s Niko Gießelmann immediately starts an overhead kick against several Stuttgarters Photo: Tom Weller/dpa
The cries of “front runner, front runner” come from the union block again. Otherwise, the almost 1000 supporters remain calm until the final whistle, unlike in the game in Malmö last Thursday, pyros are not to be seen.
Interesting: The block is only well filled shortly after kick-off. The Ultras arrive at the stadium slightly late.
VfB striker Tiago Tomas against Union Paul Jaeckel Photo: THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP
Good for Union: after eight days of three away games, the travel stress is over for now. Three home games follow. In the Bundesliga, Sunday (5:30 p.m.) is about the Bundesliga leaders again – against Dortmund.