Matchday 2 Recap - 1. FC Köln 1 - 1 1. FC Union Berlin
1. FC Köln: T. Horn; J. Horn, Sobiech, Czichos, Risse; Hauptmann (Guirassy), Clemens (Zoller), Schaub, Hector; Drexler, Cordoba (Terrode)
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Trimmel, Friedrich, Parensen, Reichel (Lenz); Hartel (Kroos), Prömel, Schmiedebach; Hedlund, Redondo (Gogia), Andersson
Goals:
Köln - Clemens, 41
Union - Anderson, 69
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| The Union team huddles to form a bulwark against Timo Horn's fiery ginger wrath. |
If you thought Urs Fischer would try something radically different as Union Berlin prepared for quite possibly their toughest fixture of the 2. Bundesliga season, you’d be mistaken. When the starting 11 for the game against recently relegated-turned-title favorites Köln was announced, it was the same 4-3-3 that Union deployed during Matchday 1 with the exception of one change: Simon Hedlund in for Akaki Gogia on the wing.
Yet what looked like a team still struggling to find its footing during last week’s narrow home win against Aue looked like a different team -- a better team -- during the match at Köln’s famously intense and atmospheric RheinEnergieStadion. It was a tough match, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for the entirety of the 90 minutes and collapsing on the field in exhaustion at the final whistle. And despite the result only being a draw, it sure feels like a win for Union.
As the game began, the sides looking startlingly evenly matched, despite Köln’s starting 11 boasting previous top-flight mainstays like goalkeeper Timo Horn and Die Mannschaft left back Jonas Hector -- oddly enough, deployed as a defensive midfielder here. (I’m a big fan of Hector, but Phillip Lahm the kid ain’t.) The ball zipped back and forth between the two sides of the field so frequently it was easy to get whiplash.
Köln native Marcel Hartel, the talented young attacking midfielder who joined Union from his hometown side prior to the 2017-2018 season, looked particularly vibrant, clearly thriving on the chance to prove himself against his former club. Hartel’s link-up play with the trio of Union forwards was far more effective than it had been against Aue in the previous week, even if the Union players remained stymied by the considerable presence of Timo Horn in goal. In fact, the entire team seemed to coalesce much better than they had only a week prior; one imagines that this is partially due to the squad starting to get used to each other but mostly due to the fact that by playing a team as talented as Köln, one naturally has to play up to the level of your opponent in order to have a chance at succeeding.
But, as the half progressed, the disparity between the two sides gradually began to show itself. There’s a reason why nearly everyone expects Köln to win the 2. Bundesliga title and rocket immediately back up to the top flight, and it was on full display by the time the game passed the 20-minute mark. Fortunately, Union goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz -- acquired from SC Freiburg during the summer transfer window -- proved up to the challenge, though it’s worth noting that the crossbar helped him out on several occasions as well. Despite having far more real chances at scoring than Union, Köln also looked remarkably wasteful, shooting the ball into the stands just as often as they tested Gikiewicz. (This, of course, would come back to bite them at the final whistle.)
At around the 41st minute, Köln midfielder Christian Clemens managed to capitalize on some sloppy Union play to snag the ball, sprint 30 yards, and score the first goal of the game. It was a long time coming with the way that half had devolved. But when Union came out after halftime they were reenergized. The second half began much in the same way that the first had, with both teams fighting it out with equal purpose and forcing the opposing goalkeepers -- and the crossbar -- into making saves. And eventually, all of Union’s hard work and refusal to give up paid off.
Fischer made his first sub at around the 66th minute, with Akaki Gogia coming on to replace a clearly exhausted Kenny Prince Redondo. Gogia’s fresh legs had an almost instant impact. In the 69th minute, a counter spearheaded by Gogia led to an Union equalizer from former Kaiserslautern striker Sebastian “Not Polter” Andersson. Andersson was basically on top of Horn when he scored, chipping the ball right over the gigantic ginger as he sprawled in the box and scrambled to make the save. Needless to say, Horn was not pleased when the ball hit the back of the net instead.
The remainder of the game played out with furious energy: Köln were desperate to not drop points at home, but Union were even more desperate to secure a valuable away point. They almost secured all three when Hector nearly bungled the ball into his own net. (Horn’s head nearly burst into flames at this near error on the edge of his box.) Left back Christopher Lenz and midfielder Felix Kroos came on late in the game to shore things up for an Union side that was literally leaving it all out there on the pitch. And in the end, thanks to some good luck and hard work, they stole that point. It was enough for Horn to kick the ball away in frustration and anger at the final whistle as everyone else stopped to catch their breath for the first time all game.
It might not have been a win, but there’s still a lot of positives for Union fans to take away from this match. Fischer’s strategy of allowing his team to come together slowly and surely, without excessive tinkering or wacky formation changes, appears to be working. Respect is also due to Union right back and new captain Christopher Trimmel, whose solid and vocal presence seemed to do much to inspire his team. Köln were indeed the better team, but Union was able to capitalize on their wastefulness and errors to earn the draw -- and when you’re contemplating promotion, every last point counts. Next up on the docket? A DFB-Pokal tie away to fellow Easterners Carl-Zeiss Jena before a home match against current table-toppers FC St. Pauli.
Yet what looked like a team still struggling to find its footing during last week’s narrow home win against Aue looked like a different team -- a better team -- during the match at Köln’s famously intense and atmospheric RheinEnergieStadion. It was a tough match, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for the entirety of the 90 minutes and collapsing on the field in exhaustion at the final whistle. And despite the result only being a draw, it sure feels like a win for Union.
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| Your periodic reminder that Timo Horn looks like my cat. |
Köln native Marcel Hartel, the talented young attacking midfielder who joined Union from his hometown side prior to the 2017-2018 season, looked particularly vibrant, clearly thriving on the chance to prove himself against his former club. Hartel’s link-up play with the trio of Union forwards was far more effective than it had been against Aue in the previous week, even if the Union players remained stymied by the considerable presence of Timo Horn in goal. In fact, the entire team seemed to coalesce much better than they had only a week prior; one imagines that this is partially due to the squad starting to get used to each other but mostly due to the fact that by playing a team as talented as Köln, one naturally has to play up to the level of your opponent in order to have a chance at succeeding.
But, as the half progressed, the disparity between the two sides gradually began to show itself. There’s a reason why nearly everyone expects Köln to win the 2. Bundesliga title and rocket immediately back up to the top flight, and it was on full display by the time the game passed the 20-minute mark. Fortunately, Union goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz -- acquired from SC Freiburg during the summer transfer window -- proved up to the challenge, though it’s worth noting that the crossbar helped him out on several occasions as well. Despite having far more real chances at scoring than Union, Köln also looked remarkably wasteful, shooting the ball into the stands just as often as they tested Gikiewicz. (This, of course, would come back to bite them at the final whistle.)
At around the 41st minute, Köln midfielder Christian Clemens managed to capitalize on some sloppy Union play to snag the ball, sprint 30 yards, and score the first goal of the game. It was a long time coming with the way that half had devolved. But when Union came out after halftime they were reenergized. The second half began much in the same way that the first had, with both teams fighting it out with equal purpose and forcing the opposing goalkeepers -- and the crossbar -- into making saves. And eventually, all of Union’s hard work and refusal to give up paid off.
Fischer made his first sub at around the 66th minute, with Akaki Gogia coming on to replace a clearly exhausted Kenny Prince Redondo. Gogia’s fresh legs had an almost instant impact. In the 69th minute, a counter spearheaded by Gogia led to an Union equalizer from former Kaiserslautern striker Sebastian “Not Polter” Andersson. Andersson was basically on top of Horn when he scored, chipping the ball right over the gigantic ginger as he sprawled in the box and scrambled to make the save. Needless to say, Horn was not pleased when the ball hit the back of the net instead.
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| I can't tell the difference, can you? |
It might not have been a win, but there’s still a lot of positives for Union fans to take away from this match. Fischer’s strategy of allowing his team to come together slowly and surely, without excessive tinkering or wacky formation changes, appears to be working. Respect is also due to Union right back and new captain Christopher Trimmel, whose solid and vocal presence seemed to do much to inspire his team. Köln were indeed the better team, but Union was able to capitalize on their wastefulness and errors to earn the draw -- and when you’re contemplating promotion, every last point counts. Next up on the docket? A DFB-Pokal tie away to fellow Easterners Carl-Zeiss Jena before a home match against current table-toppers FC St. Pauli.
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