1. FC Union Berlin picked up all three points at Eintracht Frankfurt with a 2-1 victory against the Europa League participants.
Sebastian Andersson's ninth of the league campaign put Union ahead after 48 minutes before an own goal from Evan N'Dicka extended the away side's advantage.
Andre Silva's goal with 11 minues to play put the Köpenick club under severe pressure,
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Subotic, Friedrich, Hübner; Lenz, Ryerson, Andrich, Gentner (Prömel 77); Malli (Ingvartsen 63), Bülter (Kroos 90), Andersson
Urs Fischer was forced into two changes from last week’s narrow defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Florian Hübner returned to the heart of Union’s defensive trio with Keven Schlotterbeck unavailable for selection. Meanwhile, Christopher Trimmel’s suspension handed Julian Ryerson the opportunity to start the match at right-back, while Marvin Friedrich took control of captain’s duties. With stadium acoustics on their side due to the boycott of home fans, Union controlled much of the early proceedings without putting Kevin Trapp under intense pressure. The home goalkeeper picked up a few high balls from set plays, but in the 22nd minute was eventually tested as Friedrich crossed for Malli who fired accurately on target. On 34 minutes, Marius Bülter was inches away from continuing his brilliant run of form as he raced clear on Trapp’s goal but the home side were bailed out by David Abraham. Ryerson and Hübner were cautioned towards the end of the first 45 and the central defender missed his own goal by the smallest of margins in the solitary minute of stoppage time.
1. FC Union Berlin returned from the break and were given a gift to take the lead in the 48th minute. Erik Durm and David Abraham failed to deal with a defensive situation, Christopher Lenz nipped in and set up Andersson for the easiest of tap ins. The hosts looked a threat whenever Filip Kostic found space to whip in a trademark cross, and on 61 minutes the Serb picked out Goncalo Paciencia but the striker headed over. Union could have doubled their advantage two minutes earlier than the eventual goal when Ingvartsen led a superb counter-attack, setting up Bülter who blazed the shot high and wide. In the end, the Dane would play the crucial role in creating the second goal with Evan N’Dicka turning the ball past his own goalkeeper. Andre Silva and Sebastian Rode were brought on from the Frankfurt bench, giving Union something to think about defensively. On 68 minutes, Paciencia should have the cut the deficit but Gikiewicz charged out of his goal to make a terrific stop. The resilient Union rearguard was broken 11 minutes from the end as Andre Silva’s backheel deflected against Hübner and trickled over the line. The last 10 minutes plus lengthy stoppage time were not for the faint-hearted with chances and goalmouth scrambles in both boxes. Felix Kroos was the final change in the the 90th minute and the midfielder almost scored from distance in the fourth minute of stoppage. But despite Frankfurt’s late pressure, Fischer’s team held firm for an outstanding three points on the road.
Monday night clash in Frankfurt
Match preview
1. FC Union Berlin will head to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 23 for the club’s first-ever Monday night game in the Bundesliga. The match will kick-off at the Commerzbank Arena at 20:30 local time.
Review: Union go toe-to-toe with Leverkusen, Frankfurt fly the flag in Europe
Urs Fischer’s team were dealt a frustrating blow when Leverkusen scored in stoppage time to take all three points from the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. A start full of energy eventually saw Christian Gentner ram a 20-yard shot into the top corner after seven minutes. Kai Havertz equalised for Champions League-chasing Leverkusen before Moussa Diaby put the away side ahead in the second half. It required a moment of brilliance to pull the scores level — and it came from Marius Bülter whose shot nestled into the top corner, his third in two games. But the celebrations were bitterly cut short when Karim Bellarabi squeezed into the box and shot past Rafal Gikiewicz to deny Union back-to-back victories after the win in Bremen, a week earlier.
Meanwhile, Adi Hütter's team continued to make their mark in the UEFA Europa League, taking apart RB Salzburg and winning 4-1 in the first leg. Filip Kostic rounded off a great night for the Eagles after Daichi Kamada had put away a hat-trick inside 53 minutes. Frankfurt will make the trip to the Austrian champions on Thursday for the return leg. In the Bundesliga, tenth-placed Frankfurt are off the back of a 0-4 loss at Borussia Dortmund. The home record at the Commerzbank Arena has been patchy with some dominant displays against RB Leipzig and defeats to Cologne and Wolfsburg, whilst there were home draws to Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen.
Record: Djurkovic snatches important point in 2.Bundesliga
September’s 1-2 defeat was the only previous meeting in Germany’s top-flight between the clubs. Frankfurt ran out 4-1 winners in Köpenick in the DFB Pokal back in 2007, while Union have previous success at the Eagles with two draws from three. In April 2003, Union held out for a 0-0 and a year previously, Steffen Menze and Bozidar Djurkovic struck in a 2-2 draw in the 2.Bundesliga.
Personnel: Trimmel suspended
Fischer confirmed the absence of captain Christopher Trimmel with the full-back reaching the threshold for yellow cards last week. Laurenz Dehl, Akaki Gogia and Joshua Mees are still injured, but Manuel Schmiedebach has recovered. Keven Schlotterbeck and Sheraldo Becker are doubtful and Michael Parensen came through training with no issues.
Schlotterbeck and Christian Gentner run the risk of a yellow card suspension for the next match against Wolfsburg.
Service: Schedule confirmed for special train
There is no box office for away supporters to purchase tickets in Frankfurt.
More information about the departure and arrival times of our special train can be found here.
