Union's six-point win eases the pain of the first half of the season
Where it says relegation battle, there is a relegation battle inside: After a disastrous first half, Union Berlin woke up in time against direct rivals FC Köln. Thanks to the big points, the Iron leave the relegation places, while the air is getting thinner and thinner for Effzeh coach Steffen Baumgart.
1. FC Köln suffered another heavy blow at the end of the season and are slipping deeper and deeper into crisis under coach Steffen Baumgart. Cologne lost the landmark basement clash at Union Berlin 0:2 (0:0) and spent the winter in a relegation spot in the Bundesliga. For Baumgart, it could have been his last game on the FC touchline at his old love Union of all places.
Benedict Hollerbach (56') and David Fofana (78') scored for the Berliners, who gained a little breathing space after a desolate first half of the season and go into the Christmas break three points clear of the relegation places. In Cologne, on the other hand, alarm bells are ringing after just two wins from 16 games, and managing director Christian Keller had already avoided making a clear commitment to the coach before the game - despite the courageous performance over long stretches, Baumgart lacks the arguments to keep him on.
"The situation we have simply means that you have to discuss the coach," Baumgart said before the game. Of all places, it was in his adopted home town of Köpenick that the team from Cologne were supposed to make a breakthrough - and they were the more active team from the start, but initially lacked clear goals.
Union take the lead out of nowhere
The visitors controlled the game through possession, while the Berliners, who were without striker Sheraldo Becker for disciplinary reasons, stood compactly and waited for counter-attacks. A long-range shot from Cologne's Eric Martel (27) flew over the goal.
The Köpenickers were barely active in attack and, four days after the bitter 3-0 defeat in Bochum, there was no sign of a rebellion or an idea for the game until the break. The first chance for coach Nenad Bjelica's team resulted from a loss of possession by Cologne, but Kevin Behrens narrowly missed a cross (39').
Shortly afterwards, the visitors let the lead slip: Denis Huseinbasic and Jan Thielmann finished from close range, but Frederik Rönnow made two strong saves (43'). The visitors continued to push forward after the break and Davie Selke failed to beat Rönnow with a header (51').
The Köpenickers then took the lead out of nowhere: Hollerbach made a strong run into the penalty area after a pass from Kevin Volland and fired the ball powerfully under the crossbar. Baumgart then whipped his team forward in their shirts, while Cologne ran desperately. Alex Kral missed the decision from close range (72'). Union also missed a few counter-attacking chances after that - until Fofana scored.
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In the midst of their relegation struggle, 1.FC Union Berlin secured an essential victory against 1.FC Cologne, moving three points clear of the danger zone. The defeat for Cologne, who have only won twice in 16 games, intensified their crisis and raised concerns about coach Steffen Baumgart's future.
Despite the hard-fought victory, Union Berlin remains conscious of the importance of their next matches, aiming to solidify their position in the Bundesliga soccer league and distance themselves from the relegation battle.
Source: www.ntv.de
