Union had returned from Germany undefeated, but the second leg was barely a minute old when Leverkusen struck. Burgess and Lynen unintentionally released Diaby with two unfortunate touches of the ball, who went nicely around Moris for 0-1. An uppercut that made the ‘home team’ swoon.
The Germans were able to sit back and launch their beloved fast counters, Union lending a hand with frequent loss of possession. Diaby came close to his second of the evening and Machida cleared a split Bakker cross in front of Frimpong. It was only a postponement, because Bakker was able to finish himself a little later on a pass from Hlozek.
At 0-2, coach Geraerts had to intervene. He rearranged his pawns and threw the young Finn Terho into battle. The adjustments immediately helped Lazare and Boniface with chances, but after a giveaway from Moris, Frimpong made it 0-3. Game over, you would think.
Wrong, because we finally got to see the true form of Union. Terho quickly made it 1-3 with a bit of luck, after which a yellow-blue tidal wave rolled over Leverkusen. Boniface dove with a lot of surrender to a cross from Teuma and Adingra hit the crossbar, albeit offside. Bayer goalkeeper Hradecky also had to distinguish himself with a reflex on a deflected cross.
The Lotto Park believed more and more in a miraculous comeback from Union, but that was without counting on Hlozek. The Czech was in exactly the right place to score in the rebound. Substitutes Bellarabi (lingering) and Azmoun (stumbling) failed to foist an even heavier defeat on Union, but that would have been unfair and very harsh.
There was a disappointed, but proud Senne Lynen in front of Eddy Demarez’s microphone. “We make it difficult for ourselves with that early goal against. I try to tap him to the goalkeeper and that attacker is quickly in between. And then you have to chase, which is not easy. Then you take that second before half-time and then it’s it very difficult.”
“The reaction we showed in the second half is positive. The faith was really present”, the Union midfielder also felt. “We get that third again at an unfortunate moment. Otherwise I would like to see it.”
“We have completed a fantastic course. Now, of course, disappointment prevails, but tomorrow we have to convert that into pride.” Everything has to go well against a top team like Leverkusen. “You have to be top and then you also have to be lucky that the small details are right. It was just not, we fell a little short everywhere. That is punished at this level.”
“This campaign was absolutely unforgettable,” beamed Lynen. “Now it’s money time in the competition. We can now close this adventure and go for the title.”
2023-04-20 20:50:00
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