1.FC Union Berlin was defeated 3-2 at Holstein Kiel on Monday afternoon as both teams delivered another goal-fest this season.

The two previous meetings in the 2.Bundesliga had delivered 11 goals with Union Berlin claiming four points from a possible six against one of the strongest teams in the division.

1.FC Union XI: Mesenhöler (Busk 46); Maloney, Friedrich (Schößwendter 60), Leistner (Fürstner 77) - Trimmel (Dietz 77); Kroos, Daube (Redondo 60), Prömel (Kahraman 77), Pedersen (Kurzweg 60); Skrzybski (Hedlund 46), Hosiner

The Köpenick club made a bright start, taking the lead after eight minutes when Toni Leistner converted Dennis Daube’s corner kick, punishing some weak goalkeeping from Lukas Kruse in the opening exchanges.

His usual industrious self, Philipp Hosiner asked the questions of the Kiel defence in the first quarter of an hour. The Austrian drove Union forward and nearly found a second, his shot skimming past the post from distance. Kiel seldom tested Daniel Mesenhöler with Max Besuschkow’s shot going well off target.

Nevertheless, Markus Anfang’s team levelled the scores on 22 minutes in front of around 650 fans at the Kiel training centre. A fast counter-attack put Arne Sicker into a good position and he set up Tim Siedschlag for the equaliser.

Playing in a more advanced role on the left wing, Dane Kristian Pedersen was inches away from putting Union ahead before the break. Christopher Trimmel charged furiously down the right side, bending the ball dangerously across the face of the goal but the 23-year-old was a yard off the pace.

As expected, a flurry of changes slowed the match down with Holstein Kiel scoring one of few chances after the restart - Tom Weilandt scoring on 62 minutes with the help of a deflection. However, Union reacted brilliantly at the kick off and proceeded to go up the other end of the pitch and equalise through Hosiner.

On 74 minutes, Kiel’s Manuel Janzer struck the decisive goal from the penalty spot following a tussle between Felix Kroos and Marvin Ducksch. Janzer then passed up a great chance with his head to give the home side a two-goal advantage. Union could not turn late possession into an equaliser as they left the Baltic Sea coast with a defeat.

Onwards to Fürth on Easter Weekend

Now that the final international break of the season is past, Union can focus 100% on the run-in of the league campaign. Hofschneider’s men are out to end a nine-game winless run away from the Stadion An der Alten Försterei when they head south to take on Greuther Fürth, one of the league’s current in-form teams.

The match takes place at the Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer on Sunday April 1 with kick off scheduled for 13:30 local time.