Union Berlin has shaken off the transfer vortex surrounding Isco and remains on the road to success in the DFB Cup.
The Bundesliga runners-up beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 (1-1), advanced to the quarter-finals with their fourth competitive win in a row – and can continue to dream of the final in their own city.
“We started the game pretty badly, but then showed incredible morale again,” said Union’s Rani Khedira on “Sky”.
The sensational transfer of the Spanish offensive star Isco had burst in the afternoon, “You don’t have to talk about your qualities, but it didn’t happen that way,” said Khedira: “We still have a great squad.”
In the An der Alten Försterei stadium, Robin Knoche (12th) and Kevin Behrens (79th) scored for the Köpenickers and still ensured a holiday. Luca Waldschmidt put VfL in the lead (5th). Union completed the final phase outnumbered, Niko Gießelmann saw yellow-red after a swallow (87th).
After the league bankruptcy in Bremen, Wolfsburg conceded the second defeat in a row to say goodbye to VfL manager Jörg Schmadtke, for the manager the round of 16 was the last game in office. In addition, the personal success story of coach Niko Kovac, who had won 16 cup games in a row as a coach, broke.
Burst Isco transfer the dominant topic
However, the dominant theme around the game was the five-time Champions League winner Isco, the transfer failed on the home stretch.
The ex-real star had already been spotted in the morning during a medical check in the capital, but the agreement that had actually been reached before did not materialize: the club has certain limits, said managing director Oliver Ruhnert, which “contrary to the previous agreements” had been exceeded.
When asked how much this incident would affect the team, Union coach Urs Fischer replied on the “Sky” microphone: “You’ll see, I hope not too much. Logically, that was an issue all day.”
Waldschmidt shocked Union Berlin early
And then, in heavy rain, Union got off to a rocky start. Waldschmidt gave Wolfsburg the lead right from the start after a corner, and VfL in particular continued to put the pressure on afterwards. After a short corner, Union struck on the other side, Knoche hit from close range.
The Berliners got into the game better and better, Jordan Siebatcheu only hit aluminum with his head (27th). Overall, both teams rarely managed to get dangerously in front of goal in a game that was balanced for long stretches.
After the break, Union initially determined what happened, but was not compelling enough in the end. Pavao Pervan safely parried a shot from Sheraldo Becker (50′), Rani Khedira put the ball over the goal (51′) – and then crossed in the final phase to score the opening goal.