Matchday 16 - Union above the line at Christmas - Baumgart wobbles
Benedict Hollerbach saved 1. FC Union Berlin from dropping to the relegation zone with his power and scoring instinct and further aggravated Steffen Baumgart 's situation as coach of 1. FC Köln.
In the last game before the short Christmas break, the attacking midfielder scored in the 56th minute to put the Ironmen on the road to victory against Cologne, who had previously dominated the game. David Fofana (78), who had recently been replaced by new coach Nenad Bjelica, scored the winner in a fortunate 2-0 (0-0) victory in front of 22,012 spectators at the sold-out Stadion an der Alten Försterei.
The second home win under Bjelica means Union go into the short Christmas break in the Bundesliga in 15th place. Cologne slipped to 17th place and are facing a restless holiday season. Union legend Baumgart suffered another setback at his old place of work. But even the Berliners must not be blinded by their success. In this condition, staying in the league remains a hard piece of work.
Union coach Bjelica dutifully introduced himself to referee Deniz Aytekin on the touchline with a handshake shortly before kick-off. The Croatian likes good behavior. Accordingly, there was a lot of talk about the absence of star striker Sheraldo Becker from the squad. Discipline, form or just fitness? What was missing? Bjelica had already made an example of Fofana. Visiting coach Baumgart obviously also saw the need for change: five changes to the starting eleven after the 2-0 defeat in Freiburg as a sign of hope for new impetus.
Soccer in the highest caution category
After their twelve-minute silent protest against the DFL and its investor plan, both fan camps had to realize that fighting relegation is also a question of patience. The fear of the error devil ensured soccer in the highest caution category. After 38 minutes, Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow had to stretch for a ball for the first time when Denis Huseinbasic shot in the penalty area.
Things got even dicier when Rönnow had to clear twice against Huseinbasic and Jan Uwe Thielemann (43'). Cologne goalkeeper Schwäbe, on the other hand, was primarily rewarded for his presence in the first half.
After the break, Bjelica brought on striker Fofana, who had recently been withdrawn due to a lack of diligence in training, for Kevin Behrens, who continued to be hapless. However, Rönnow was once again in the spotlight, just managing to keep out a header from Cologne's former Hertha player Davie Selke (49').
Hollerbach did not seem to like the way the game was going. He energetically forced his way into the Cologne penalty area and thumped the ball into the corner. A fortunate lead for the Berliners, which Hollerbach almost increased himself a minute later, but Schwäbe dived in time to make the save. The Cologne keeper now saved several Berlin counter-attacking chances. However, he was powerless against Fofana's shot from an acute angle.
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- Despite the victory, Union coach Bjelica highlighted the need for continuous improvement, acknowledging that staying in the Bundesliga remains a challenging task for the Berlin-based team.
- In the aftermath of the match, Cologne's new coach Nenad Bjelica lamented the poor performance of midfielder David Fofana, who had been substituted due to a lack of discipline during training.
- Steffen Baumgart, who currently coaches 1. FC Köln, will face increased scrutiny after another defeat, leaving his team in the relegation zone in 17th place.
- Benedict Hollerbach, Union's powerhouse striker, showcased his scoring instinct by netting the crucial goal against Cologne, earning his team a fortuitous 2-0 victory and keeping Union above the relegation line.
- The CDU/CSU, Germany's main political alliance, had invited Bjelica for a meeting to discuss potential support for his coaching tenure at Union, hoping that he could bring the team away from the brink of relegation.
- The Gate 14 fan base of 1. FC Köln expressed their frustration with the team's performance, highlighting the need for a change in tactics and strategy to secure a better position in the Bundesliga standings.
- German soccer expert Federik Rönnow, who plays as the goalkeeper for 1. FC Union Berlin, played a crucial role in their victory, making several vital saves to control the flow of the game and secure the win for the Ironmen.
- Union's crucial victory against Cologne signified their third win of the season and elevated their position in the Bundesliga standings, putting them in a more secure standing and making it difficult for the relegation-threatened teams to catch up.
- As the Christmas break draws closer, both Union and Cologne will take some time off from the Bundesliga, allowing players and staff to rest and reflect on the second half of the season, with the goal of securing a strong finish in the ongoing soccer league.
Source: www.stern.de
