Bülter hits two as Union Berlin beat Borussia Dortmund
First Bundesliga win:
1. FC Union Berlin won for the first time in the Bundesliga, delivering a sensational 90 minutes to beat title challengers Borussia Dortmund 3-1.
Bülter's first goal on 22 minutes was the first in the Bundesliga at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. However, last season's Bundesliga runner-up Borussia Dortmund responded three minutes later through Paco Alcacer.
Union continued to give everything after the interval against a strong Dortmund side and Bülter's strike on 50 minutes put Urs Fischer's men into the lead. Sebastian Andersson turned home a third to put Union into a commanding position and secure all three points on a memorable night in Köpenick.
Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Trimmel, Friedrich, Subotic, Lenz; Becker, Schmiedebach (Gentner 62), Andrich, Bülter (Mees 75); Andersson, Ujah (Kroos 79)
Borussia Dortmund: Bürki; Hakimi, Piszczek, Hummels, Akanji; Delaney (Dahoud 46), Weigl (Guerreiro 67); Sancho, Reus, Brandt (Bruun Larsen 86); Alcacer
Fischer opted for two strikers from the start with Ujah and Andersson as a partnership. With Keven Schlotterbeck suspended, Marvin Friedrich returned to central defence, while Manuel Schmiedebach stepped in to Grischa Prömel’s position for his first appearance of the Bundesliga campaign. Inspired by an electric atmosphere inside the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Union grabbed their heart in both hands and put up a fight against the visitors. From a corner kick, Bülter found a yard and scored his first goal in the top-flight having come through Germany's lower leagues. Dortmund responded well, to their credit, with an excellent passage of play leading to Alcacer's equaliser. Roman Bürki's speed and quick reactions prevented Sheraldo Becker from sprinting clear of the Dortmund backline in the final minutes of the half. There was still one opportunity in the four additional minutes for Favre's side — but Unioner des Jahres Rafal Gikiewicz kept out a strike from Marco Reus.
Lucien Favre made one substitution at the break with Mo Dahoud replacing Thomas Delaney, who suffered a head knock in the first half. Four minutes in, Union turned the screw with an excellent second goal. Sebastian Andersson went one-vs-one with Akanji, squeezing the ball through the defender’s legs but his shot coming back off Bürki. The rebound came out to Bülter who controlled his finish into the bottom corner of the net. Dortmund saw more and more of the possession in humid conditions but Union defended well from the front. The counter-attack proved an important weapon but there was also a danger from set-piece situations which Dortmund narrowly managed to defend. After a final water break, Union found another gear in the last 15 minutes with Sheraldo Becker turning creator for Andersson to slot in the third from close range. Joshua Mees and Felix Kroos were given the task of racking up the yards and seeing out an important three points. Dortmund asked a handful of questions at the end but Union stood up to the challenge and held on to a stunning three points.
Full match report to follow shortly.
