JNow it’s getting scary about Max Kruse and 1. FC Union. Thanks to the penalty specialist and goal preparer Kruse, the underdog suddenly plays in the Bundesliga in a table region that is actually home to the national elite. On Saturday, the Berliners sent Armina Bielefeld with the former Union coach Uwe Neuhaus 5-0 (3-0) home in frustration and have now been unbeaten for six games.
Ex-national player Kruse shone as in the previous victory in Hoffenheim with a goal from the point (52nd minute) and two direct goal preparations. With twelve points, the iron, who first rose to the top floor in 2019, are in fourth place in the Champions League at least until Sunday. The competition is amazed.
Against promoted Arminia, who was clearly inferior in the An der Alten Försterei stadium, conceded the fifth league defeat in a row and is just before the relegation zone with four points, Union astonished in the starting phase. The Japanese Kaita Endo after 129 seconds and the second fastest goal in the Bundesliga history of the Berliners and Robert Andrich (13th minute) struck straight away. Sheraldo Becker (45th + 2) added before the break. Cedric Teuchert (89th) made the final score 5-0 – the Berlin’s highest Bundesliga victory was perfect.
Union coach Urs Fischer wanted to bring the Bielefeld team into trouble with the fast outside Becker and Endo – that worked. After Kruse’s pass, the Dutchman Becker sprinted away from the Arminia defense, his flat input pushed Endo free-standing into the net. A little later, the Japanese, whom Fischer had put into the starting line-up, had to leave the field due to a thigh injury. Before the 2-0, Kruse put the ball in front of Andrich from the left. Then the 32-year-old sends the agile Becker on the way to 3-0. It was the new Unioner’s fifth goal preparation this season.
“We have to stay disgusting,” Fischer told his men on matchday 7. And the mixture of tough duels and playful solutions brought second division champions Bielefeld into great distress again and again. Even veteran Matthias Gentner could have scored in his 413rd Bundesliga game – the entire Bielefeld squad had less. Even without the injured Marcus Ingvartsen, Grischa Prömel and Anthony Ujah, the hosts clearly determined the game in all phases.
Only the ex-Unioner Marcel Hartel, one of the heroes of the rise, had a real chance of scoring. But Union keeper Andreas Luthe directed his shot next to the housing (17th). The ex-Augsburg Luthe is still number one in Berlin, the Liverpool loaner Loris Karius only sat on the bench after surviving an injury.
Finally, Kruse also signed up for the third time this season as a goal scorer and was celebrated by the onlookers in front of the stadium – spectators were not allowed in the arena due to the corona pandemic. Amos Pieper stopped the substitute Akaki Gogia previously punishable. With the 16th converted penalty, the ripped-off Kruse set the record with the 100 percent quota of Schalke and Bochumers Hans-Joachim Abel in the Bundesliga.
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