Matchday 7 Recap: 1. FC Union Berlin 2 - 0 Holstein Kiel
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Trimmel, Friedrich, Hübner, Lenz; Schmiedebach, Prömel, Zulj; Hedlund (Hartel), Andersson (Polter), Gogia (Ryerson)
Holstein Kiel: Kronholm; Dehm, Schmidt, Wahl, Van den Bergh; Kinsombi, Mühling (Girth), Meffert; Lee; Serra, Honsak (Schindler (Okugawa))
Goals:
Union: Prömel, 90; Polter, 90+4
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| Polter marching back onto the pitch like the badass he is. Source: Union Berlin. |
Wow. Just when you thought Union Berlin were going to slump to a fourth consecutive league draw, they ended up taking all three points from a Holstein Kiel side that at first seemed utterly impossible to break down. But thanks to Grischa Prömel’s continued hot streak and the return of the one and only Sebastian Polter -- not to mention the continued heroics of Rafal Gikiewicz in goal -- Union got back to winning ways in style.
As expected, Fischer lightly rotated the squad to account for the quick turnaround, giving some fringe players a chance to get some substantial minutes under their belts. Zulj slotted into midfield for Kroos, Lenz replaced Reichel at left back, and Hedlund replaced Hartel in the attacking trio. Despite the changes in the squad, the first half was more of what we’ve seen lately from Union, with a lot of running and passing and possession but very little to legitimately threaten the opposing team. (I know I’ve said this a million times, and I don’t want to keep repeating myself, but since the team keep repeating themselves as well, it’s hard to avoid!)
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| Union Berlin fans protesting the DFB's choice of kickoff times. Source: Union in Englisch on Twitter |
Anyways, the first 20 minutes of play on the pitch were about as quiet as the fans in the stands. Shortly before halftime, one of Christopher Trimmel’s perfect corner kicks made contact with Hübner’s head, but the center back’s attempt on goal was saved by Holstein Kiel’s German-American goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm. Another attempt by Andersson shortly afterward was also easily saved by Kronholm. Despite these close calls, unlike the last two matchdays, Union weren’t able to close out the first half with a last-minute goal.
The second half featured more quality play from Akaki Gogia, who was unlucky to not get at least one goal or assist before being subbed off for Julian Ryerson in the 86th minute. Gogia’s powerful runs up the side of the field are becoming an Union Berlin signature. Early in the half, he had a quality shot on goal that Kronholm fumbled out into the path of Hedlund, but neither winger managed to slot the ball home. Later, Gogia dribbled through what seemed like a million Kiel players and weaved around until he was free to take a shot - but it went into the stands. His frustration as he lifted up his shirt and screamed was obvious and understandable.
The first Union sub came in the 69th minute when Marcel Hartel came in for Hedlund, but it was the second sub that ended up being the difference-maker. In that 75th minute, Sebastian Polter replaced Sebastian Andersson to make his first appearance for Union Berlin since rupturing his Achilles tendon in March. His appearance after a total of 201 days fired up the crowd and the team. Immediately after coming on, he nearly headed in one of Trimmel’s corners, seemingly the only Union Berlin player capable of understanding how and when to get his head on the ball. A couple of other chances fell to him moments later.
Yet Polter wasn’t the one to break the stalemate for Union. That would be Grischa Prömel, who seized on a stray ball after Zulj fell on the edge of the box and scored his third goal of the season and second in two games to put Union up one in the 90th minute. Yes, they left it late, and it was as dramatic as you would expect. Prömel was embraced by his teammates with what seemed to be equal parts joy and relief.
Of course, with four minutes of added time, the game wasn’t over yet. It seemed like the ideal icing on the cake of another Union Berlin win would be a welcome back goal for Polter. And boy, did he get one. In the 94th minute Polter went for an absurd overhead kick. The ball sailed over the outstretched fingertips of Kronholm and into the top corner of the net. It was a brilliant, beautiful way for one of Union’s talismanic players to make his return to the game.
Sebastian Polter is a striker in the same mold as Olivier Giroud, though he is probably more efficient than the French World Champion (keeping in mind the totally different levels of opposition the two regularly face). Both men are number 9s in the traditional sense, large target men who can get a head on a well-placed corner kick and slam it home with ease. But both also do so much more for their teams than just score goals. Like Giroud, Polter is able to track back and do the less glamorous work for the sake of the team. He is also remarkably unselfish and willing to pass the ball to a teammate who might be in a better position than him.
Altogether, Polter is the kind of striker any team would be lucky to have -- just look at QPR fans, who still adore him after his brief sojourn in south London a few years ago. While Sebastian Andersson has shown admirable attacking quality since he joined Union this summer and slotted into the starting striker role, it’s clear that Polter’s return to the pitch brought an extra spark to his teammates that helped push them on to victory. And of course, there was that moment of individual magic in the dying moments of stoppage time. Show me another Union player who has the confidence and the power to score that goal -- I don’t think you can.
Polter’s absence from the squad was a contributing factor in the team’s springtime slump last season -- that and the Swiss cheese defense, of course. But Polter’s return coupled with Union’s new-look defense could mean big things ahead for Union. They remain the only unbeaten team in the league, with their record now bumped up to three wins and four draws. Up next is another weeknight match, away to struggling Ingolstadt on Monday. One hopes that this win will buoy the team to snatch three points away from home for the first time this season.
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