The A-youth team of 1. FC Union Berlin missed out on entering the semifinals of the Berlin Cup on Thursday evening. The Eisernen lost to BFC Preussen with a score of 3-4 (2-2).  

1. FC Union Berlin: Kopp – Barry (57th minute Sakoufakis), Badran, Adesyian, Wilp (75. Alkan) – Sliskovic, Ciobanu (57. Mewes), Kannegießer, Riedel, Ali – Tabuaa (57. Wiehe) 

BFC Preussen: Saatci – Klimpke, Tuncer, Peter, Rmieh – Ermini, Yildirim, Minko, Dworzynski – Rehberg, Abou-Chaker  

Goals: 1:0 Ali (6th minute), 2:0 Kannegießer (16.), 2:1 Peter (40.), 2:2 Minko (45.), 2:3 Dworzynski (49.), 2:4 Peter (62.) 3:4 Ali (81.)  

Efficient Unioner punished just before halftime 

With the last rays of sunshine, the referee opened the quarterfinal match at the Preussen-Stadion. The game began roughly, and the Eisernen needed some time to get used to the aggressiveness of the opponent. However, the Köpenicker then developed joy in playing and rewarded themselves with the first goal: a high pass into the path of Ali was finished by the striker with a lob for a 1-0 lead. After that, the cup match calmed down for a while, but the toughness in duels remained high. After a quarter of an hour, the Red-Whites increased to 2-0. After the ball bounced back into the back area, Kannegießer was perfectly positioned and scored in the bottom left. At that moment, the Eisernen dictated the match and dominated the game. However, as the game progressed, the home team also found their feet and had several goal attempts that missed the target. 

Gradually, the match picked up speed, and two shots hit the crossbar shortly after each other. First, Ali crossed from the right wing, and the trajectory of the ball was so dangerous that it hit the inside post. In the immediate counterattack, the Schwarz-Weißen had a great chance to reduce the deficit: from the left edge of the penalty area, a BFC player curved the ball onto the crossbar. From the crossbar, the ball fell to two other players' feet, but they could not capitalize on the rebound from close range. The Preussen now played more offensively, which paid off with the goal that reduced the deficit. The BFC forwards pressured the defense and forced the Eisernen's keeper into an errant pass. A dribble through the center followed, and a cross pass had to be simply slotted in by the forward in the center. Just before halftime came the shock for the Unioner: A loss of possession just outside the penalty area was ruthlessly punished by the home team, and thus the Steglitz equalized with the halftime whistle.  

Preussen with a tailwind, Union unable to turn the deficit around  

The home team came out of the locker room with more momentum and turned the game around shortly after the restart. A long-range shot was deflected decisively, so the Eisernen's keeper had no chance to save it. The young Unioners were now trailing, but this initially did not unsettle the Eisernen and awakened new attacking forces. However, the efforts of the Red-Whites were abruptly halted when the referee awarded a penalty, after which Preussen took a 4-2 lead. 

The Köpenicker had to do something to prevent an exit. However, the offense initially found no way through. Several substitutions brought fresh energy onto the field, strengthening the attack again. It continued to falter in the final meters before the goal. It took a long ball to score the goal that reduced the deficit: the ball landed with Wiehe, who sprinted towards the goal with a solo run and had the awareness to pass to Ali, who rounded the keeper and slotted in to make it 3-4. The third goal from the Köpenicker initiated a tense final few minutes, during which the Red-Whites became dangerous several times from set pieces, but it was not enough for the equalizer.  

Voice on the match 

“In the first thirty minutes, we had control of the game and gave it away just before halftime,” said U19 coach Marco Grote after the cup defeat. “We contributed too much to the opposition’s goals, and the rest of the evening is then cup history. I must also congratulate Preussen, as they ultimately won fairly. I am very sorry for the boys, but we are responsible for the result.”  

Outlook 

Next Sunday, the 06.04., the A-youth team will play their last home game of the DFB youth league main round. The Eisernen will be challenged by SpVgg Unterhaching at the training center Oberspree. The match will kick off at 11:00.