Dhe 1. FC Union Berlin kept the chance to advance in the Europa Conference League. At Maccabi Haifa, the Berliners prevailed 1-0 (0-0) and are now facing a final for a place in the knockout phase. Hibernation in international competition would succeed by another victory in the last group game on December 9th against Slavia Prague in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. After their second success in Group E, coach Urs Fischer’s team now has six points on their account. The decisive goal in Israel was scored by the Norwegian international Julian Ryerson (66th minute).
“We are happy that we could win the game. That’s all that counts today, “said Max Kruse, who also admitted:” We could have made the game more dominant. “But you just gave up balls and made your own life harder, emphasized the former national player:” It has not won anyone from the group here. That’s why we performed well. “
120 kilometers away from Tel Aviv, Union started powerfully, but was unable to create clear chances for too long. As in the 3-0 in the first leg, Fischer bet on the Dane Frederik Rönnow, regular goalkeeper Andreas Luthe had to go on the bench. The Swiss coach did not want this to be seen as a demotion of Luthe, but as a deserved reward for Rönnow. Overall, after the 2-0 win in the Berlin derby against Hertha BSC last weekend, four positions were changed, including captain Christopher Trimmel and striker Cedric Teuchert due to bans.
24,000 spectators in the sold-out Samy-Ofer Stadium, including around 600 Union fans, ensured a great atmosphere, but the professionals on the pitch offered far too little. Both Israel’s second in the table Haifa and the current fifth in the Bundesliga Union Berlin left a lack of creativity for a long time. In addition, the decisive passes in front of the gate were too imprecise. Shortly after the break, Maccabi increased the pressure and Unions Ryerson was able to clarify in dire need just in time (47th).
And what was Berlin doing? Against the well-organized defense block of the Israelis, Max Kruse tried with a shot from 25 meters (55th), but this missed the goal. Ryerson made it better with a header after the submission of Sheraldo Becker, who had just been substituted. After that, both teams continued to watch each other and Union brought the narrow lead over time. Rönnow steered a dangerous free kick in stoppage time over the goal.
Hours before kick-off, a delegation from 1. FC Union visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. “It was a deep need for us to use our official trip to Israel to visit this special place and I am very grateful that we could be here,” said club president Dirk Zingler. During the first leg there had been anti-Semitic incidents and attacks on fans of the Israeli champions in Berlin. The club condemned the assaults sharply in September.
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