Union Berlin: Doekhi – “These goals are the best feeling”

Put Union on the road to victory against Hoffenheim: Danilho Doekhi.

IMAGO/Matthias Koch

Before the game against TSG Hoffenheim, Urs Fischer said that he was “spoiled for choice” despite a few staff worries when it came to the starting line-up. The Union Berlin coach finally chose Jordan as Sheraldo Becker’s strike partner. In central defence, he relied on Danilho Doekhi and Paul Jaeckel for half-time positions. And not on Timo Baumgartl.

Jordan showed a rather unfortunate performance. Just like in the final games before the World Cup break, when he was still called up in the first eleven. He seemed a little more active and lively in the penalty area, but somehow it just wasn’t meant to be. The 26-year-old grabbed the ball at the hand penalty and wanted to make it too precise. The result: his powerful shot hit the outside of the post.

Jordan’s dry spell

He now has to process it, said Fischer. “On Friday we practiced penalties and he converted them effortlessly.” But in training it is something different than on the day of the game. “We don’t have such a good series there.” Correct: Union missed four of the five penalties this season, only Sven Michel scored. In the previous three Bundesliga seasons, the Irons had missed just three times (14 converted).

His dry spell is already dragging on like chewing gum: on September 18, 2022, the attacker was last successful in a 2-0 win over Wolfsburg. He was once again denied a much-needed sense of achievement. Doekhi, on the other hand, was completely different: the central defender repaid the coach’s trust. And that with a double pack. “These goals are the best feeling when you score twice in a game. I don’t know when I last managed to do that. Crazy,” he said, describing his emotions.

Jaeckel faster than Baumgartl

Of course, Fischer was full of praise for the match winner after the final whistle. “That power is what sets him apart. You have to have that determination if you want to score goals in the penalty area.” It wasn’t enough for Jaeckel to score, but the 24-year-old still did a lot of self-promotion.

Due to his speed advantages, he was given preference over Baumgartl. And that should have been the right decision of the coach. Because he had the fast-paced and nimble Ihlas Bebou well under control for long stretches. An impressive result: the native of Brandenburg won all duels and got 86 percent of his passes to the man. A letter of recommendation that he wants to be in the starting XI again on Wednesday in Bremen.