Four-goal Union progress in DFB Pokal
Victory in Jena:
An inspiring performance from 1. FC Union Berlin's Swedish double act helped the Berliners secure their place in the second round of the DFB Pokal with a 4-2 win over FC Carl Zeiss Jena.
Simon Hedlund scored twice, while Sebastian Andersson opened the scoring after 14 minutes and Felix Kroos netted the second soon after. An own goal from captain Christopher Trimmel and a strike Maximilian Wolfram kept Mark Zimmermann's team in contention for the best part of an hour.
FC Carl Zeiss Jena: Coppens; Cros (Sucsuz 46), Slamar, Brügmann, Grösch; Bock (Brügmann 70), Wolfram, Eckhardt (Tchenkoua 79), Erlbeck; Starke, Tietz
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Trimmel, Friedrich, Parensen, Lenz; Schmiedebach (Hübner 92), Prömel, Kroos (Hartel 36); Hedlund, Andersson, Gogia (Redondo 72)
Attendance: 10,600
Urs Fischer made three changes to his starting line-up from the draw in Cologne on Monday, with Akaki Gogia, Felix Kroos and Christopher Lenz coming in to replace Kenny Prince Redondo, Marcel Hartel and Ken Reichel. The Berlin club surrendered the early possession to the third-division side without being seriously tested aside from a few well-hit crosses from the flanks. Gogia should have put the visitors ahead on 11 minutes, but Andersson did three minutes later, heading home Trimmel's cross. Referee Felix Brych intervened on 17 minutes to chop off a potential goal for Fischer's team as Grischa Prömel bundled the ball home inside the six-yard-box.
However, Mark Zimmermann's men went on to level the scores on 21 minutes when Maximilian Wolfram headed home Dominik Bock's cross at the back post. Union regained control of the game following a water break and restored their lead thanks to Felix Kroos' header. The midfielder took a hefty knock in the process and was subsequently replaced by Hartel. Despite rarely troubling Rafal Gikiewicz, Jena equalised on 42 minutes with skipper Trimmel turning a cross from the right flank into his own net. Fischer's team maximised the extra five minutes of play, which came as a result of the mid-half water break, scoring the third on the whistle. The quick-footed Gogia was brought down by Guillaume Cros and the resulting spot kick was converted by Hedlund.
The 25-year-old, who started on the left of a 4-3-3 in Jena, carved out a scoring chance for himself by rounding the goalkeeper, but he failed to beat Brügmann on the line. Compatriot Andersson headed over from a few yards out on the hour mark as the visitors piled on the pressure. With 20 minutes to go - and following a second water break - Hedlund stabbed home the decisive fourth goal after outstanding midfield play from Prömel. Kenny Prince Redondo and Florian Hübner were given game time from the bench in the final stages with Union comfortably securing their passage to the second round of the German Cup.
The DFB Pokal second round draw will take place next Sunday (August 26).
