Union staggers to another defeat against Frankfurt
The horror series of 1. FC Union Berlin and coach Urs Fischer continued in the Bundesliga against Eintracht Frankfurt.
After their twelfth defeat in a row, the Berliners slipped into the relegation zone. The Unioners lost 0:3 (0:2) to the Hessians in the sold-out An der Alten Försterei stadium. The public pressure on Fischer and his professionals will continue to grow. The club and its supporters had clearly backed the coach before the game.
Omar Marmoush gave Frankfurt a comfortable early lead in front of 22,012 spectators (2nd, 14th minute). The Iron's attack thereafter was unsuccessful. Substitute Nacho Ferri decided the game (82').
No points since the end of August
Union have not picked up a point since the end of August. Before the international break, further difficult tasks await the Irons with the premier class match at SSC Napoli on Wednesday and the game at the strong Leverkusen next weekend.
While the relegation battle looms in Köpenick, Eintracht have maintained their grip on the European places. Dino Toppmöller's team have picked up ten points from their last four league games. On Thursday, Eintracht play the third of four away games in a row in the Conference League at Helsinki before traveling to Bremen on Sunday.
The Köpenickers tried to symbolically close ranks before the game. President Dirk Zingler unequivocally backed Fischer in the stadium booklet. In the current situation, the club would be "ill-advised to send one of the best coaches in the Bundesliga home", he said on Sky.
Fans support Fischer
The fans also left no stone unturned: even before kick-off, there were chants and plenty of applause for the 57-year-old. The team stood in front of the stands after the warm-up and were cheered on with "Let's go Union, fight and win".
However, their confidence quickly ran out. The visitors' early lead with the first shot on goal fitted perfectly into Berlin's image of recent weeks. After an at least controversial foul against Robin Knoche, Union defended the ensuing free-kick poorly. Marmoush scored with a low shot from a turn - the Egyptian's third successive league goal.
A simple ball behind the Berlin defense was all it took for the 24-year-old's second goal, who scored a brace, as he did against Dortmund last weekend. Hugo Larsson crossed into the middle, where Marmoush slotted home unchallenged.
Even though the hosts then had two good opportunities through David Fofana (18th, 19th) and tried a lot offensively, the consequences of the long unsuccessful weeks could not be overlooked. Simple passes were played into the backs of teammates and there were repeated misunderstandings.
Once again, however, the Köpenickers could not be accused of a lack of effort. Frankfurt barely got out of their own half in the second half, but Berlin's attack was often imprecise and hapless.
Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp saved against Fofana (59'). Substitute Kevin Behrens headed the ball next to the goal from the best position (69'). Far too few of the countless crosses found a taker. Consequently, the action continued at the other end: Ferri decided the match after a one-two with Mario Götze.
Despite the strong support from fans and club president Dirk Zingler, 1st FC Union Berlin continued their winless streak in the Bundesliga, losing to Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3. The Unioners have not earned a point since the end of August, and their woes were highlighted in this match, as Omar Marmoush scored twice for Frankfurt. The defeat pushed Union closer to the relegation zone, and the pressure on coach Urs Fischer and his team will increase as they prepare for tough matches against SSC Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen.
Source: www.dpa.com
