Union Berlin extended their unbeaten run to five league games after a 1-1 draw against Duisburg.
Toni Leistner’s goal in the second half put Jens Keller’s men in pole position to secure all three points, but Iljutcenko struck from close range three minutes from the end to share the spoils.
After nine players dropped out of the team in Leverkusen this week, Keller restored nine back to the starting line-up. The same form and confidence returned to the side, with Union dominating the early moments. In the fifth minute, Trimmel’s free kick was caught among a bunch of Duisburg defenders, but Sebastian Polter managed to stick a leg out and force a brilliant save from Dutchman Mark Flekken.
Aside from a few half-chances for both teams, the only other main chance came from Trimmel’s set-piece strengths. Duisburg struggled to clear the free kick and Marcel Hartel’s clever lob was a few metres too high on the stroke of half time.
To the credit of Keller’s players, they turned the screw after the restart and played with more courage and intensity. Four minutes in to the half, Trimmel’s cross was nodded into the net by Leistner, who counted just his fourth goal in 97 2.Bundesliga games for the Köpenick club. Failure to kill off games has been a problem in the past, and Union had difficulties in putting the match to bed.
Duisburg took full advantage in the final 10 minutes, putting the Union backline into defensive mode. Wolze was a threat from set pieces in the second half and his cross was turned in by Iljutcenko who found himself unmarked in the centre of the box. Suddenly, the hosts looked for the winner, but Union held out to take a point home.
“We were not satisfied with our game in general today. From the very beginning, we did not bring into play the intensity that we are used to. And when you then go 1-0 in the lead, you have to play a little more calmly. We were hectic and did not remain in possession of the ball and in the end it was the earned reward for Duisburg,” said Keller in the media conference.
It’s back to home action next weekend in the league with St Pauli making the trip from Hamburg. Kick-off at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei is at 13:00 on Saturday.
Back to basis: Keller's Union ready to forget German Cup exit
Match preview
With the Bayer Leverkusen clash put to one side, Union Berlin will take on MSV Duisubrg at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena this weekend. Jens Keller and his side will be hoping to rediscover the winning touch, having put together a decent run of four successive wins in the league before Tuesday’s DFB Pokal exit.
On the back of this season’s form, Union head to Duisburg as clear favourites. The Köpenick club are fourth in the division with 21 points from a possible 33, while Duisburg are down in 14th with just 12 points to their name. One of the founding members of the Bundesliga in 1963, Duisburg are slowly beginning to improve this season under head coach Ilia Gruev.
Until the previous weeks, Gruev’s side had conceded the most goals in the league. However, a 0-0 draw at home to Braunschweig and a 1-0 win at Kaiserslautern have given the confidence levels a boost. Union’s last visit to Duisburg was for a hotly-contested DFB Pokal tie in 2016, which the Berliners ran out 2-1 winners after extra time.
After returning to Berlin on Wednesday, Keller’s side went straight to work. The Union coach emphasized the importance of putting Tuesday’s loss to one side and return to the bread-and-butter of league action. “We need our quality to speak for itself. We must have the same self-confidence – as Kaiserslautern. But away we often have a hard time, so that’s why we need to play in an organised and concentrated way and approach it with 100% focus,” said the Union boss.
Keller won’t put further pressure on Kristian Pedersen to travel to Nordrhein-Westfalen after the Dane picked up a thigh problem in midweek. Meanwhile, Atusto Uchida is moving closer to a comeback, but Sunday’s game comes a little quick for the former Schalke defender.
Gates for the stadium in Duisburg open on Sunday from midday local time. More than 1,000 fans from Union Berlin are expected to get behind the team. Further tickets are available for both the home and away section at the box office in Duisburg.
