1. FC Union Berlin held to 0-0 draw in Paderborn
No goals:
1. FC Union Berlin remain unbeaten in the 2.Bundesliga after a 0-0 draw at the Benteler-Arena on Sunday against newly-promoted SC Paderborn.
The Berliners enjoyed the better of the chances, particularly in the second period. Sebastian Andersson and substitute Joshua Mees came close but Urs Fischer's side could only manage to secure a point on matchday 10.
SC Paderborn: Zingerle; Dräger, Schonlau, Strohdiek, Collins; Vasiliadis (Hünemeier 87); Antwi-Adjej, Klement, Schwede (Tekpety 72); Gueye, Zolinski (Ritter 61)
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Lenz, Hübner, Friedrich, Trimmel; Schmiedebach, Prömel, Kroos (Zulj 70); Gogia (Mees 61), Andersson (Polter 80), Hartel
Union coach Fischer made two changes to his starting side, which earned a 1-1 draw at home to 1. FC Heidenheim a fortnight ago. Ken Reichel dropped out of the squad entirely, while Robert Zulj went on to the bench in place of Christopher Lenz and Felix Kroos. A steady opening period to the game from Union was to be expected given Paderborn's offensive armoury. Steffen Baumgart's team have created the most chances, taken the most shots and scored the most goals from set-piece situations in the 2.Bundesliga this season. That quality was on evidence in the seventh minute as Babacar Gueye weaved into the box, cut it across goal but eventually denied by the efforts of goalie Rafal Gikiewicz and Marvin Friedrich. Union's best effort arrived after 14 minutes with Christopher Trimmel's powerful cross heading in the direction of Swedish international Sebastian Andersson, if not for the intervention of Paderborn keeper Leopold Zingerle.
Union Berlin assumed more control in the second period and looked to impose their game on the home side. Florian Hübner headed over on 54 minutes from a free-kick situation, earned by a brilliant run by Marcel Hartel. Mees was given the nod on the hour mark, returning to the side after an injury lay-off — the 22-year-old's last appearance was on the first week of the campaign. Fischer's side became stronger and stronger and carved open a great chance on 67 minutes — Grischa Prömel's reverse pass playing in Andersson who was denied one-vs-one by Zingerle. The Swede was wiped out by the Paderborn keeper two minutes later as his header came back off the crossbar. Robert Zulj and Sebastian Polter entered the fray and bolstered Union's attacking options as the lion's share of the game was played in Paderborn's defensive-third. Mees missed a promising opening with five minutes left, but it was a hard shot for the winger to take on. A point was secured in the end meaning the Berliners hold on to their unbeaten record with Dynamo Dresden the next challengers at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei next weekend.
