Last-minute defeat in Düsseldorf for Union Berlin
Final Bundesliga match of 2019:
1. FC Union Berlin went down to a last-minute goal from Erik Thommy as Fortuna Düsseldorf ran out 2-1 winners on Sunday.
Michael Parensen's goal early in the second half led the fightback from a goal deficit at the break. Rouwen Hennings took Union by surprise with a long-range effort after 39 minutes.
Union dominated after equalising, but were unable to score the decisive second. In the end, substitute Thommy struck from 30 yards after 89 minutes to give Düsseldorf the points.
Fortuna Düsseldorf: Steffen; Zimmermann, Hoffmann, Ayhan, Suttner; Fink, Morales, Bodzek; Hennings, Ampomah, Kownacki
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Friedrich, Hübner (Mees 45), Parensen; Trimmel, Lenz, Andrich, Gentner; Ingvartsen (Ujah 62), Bülter (Ryerson 83), Andersson
For the final game of the year, Urs Fischer made two changes from the side, which lost 0-2 at home to Hoffenheim on Tuesday. Marius Bülter returned in place of Anthony Ujah, while Michael Parensen took the place of Neven Subotic in the heart of defence. Union Berlin coped with Fortuna Düsseldorf's pro-active start to the match, which amounted to winning a handful of corner kicks. On six minutes, Marvin Friedrich headed Christopher Trimmel's corner goalwards but Bülter's touch turned the ball on to the post. Friedrich was involved in all of Union's bright patches and he opened up the home defence to play in Sebastian Andersson but the Swede was shoved over within the laws of the game. The defender struck over the target on 29 minutes, but over the course of the first-half, Friedhelm Funkel's team held the upper-hand. Rafal Gikiewicz parried a shot wide from Dawid Kownacki, while both Alfredo Morales and Oliver Fink shot over. The hosts went into the interval with the advantage, scoring through Hennings' unstoppable shot from long-range with six minutes left to play.
Fischer wasted little time in tinkering, with Union trailing. Florian Hübner was withdrawn and replaced by Joshua Mees as the Köpenick club looked to play with more attacking threat. The Union coach was rewarded three minutes into the second half when Friedrich's header was saved as far as Parensen who marked his 243rd appearance with his first Bundesliga goal. On 56 minutes, Steffen found himself thanking his luck as Andersson struggled to get the ball out from under his feet to convert inside the six-yard-box. The American goalkeeper parried an excellent drive from Robert Andrich on the hour mark, but the combination of four Union Berlin players failed to turn the rebound over the goalline. At this point, Fischer's men had assumed control and looked the most likely to find the decisive second goal in Düsseldorf. Long shots were encouraged with the rain beating down and Bülter fired just wide on 77 minutes. The hosts found an extra gear in the final stretch and Gikiewicz had to be alert to make a brilliant save from Rouwen Hennings on 82 minutes. The match looked to be heading for a draw as the game entered the 89th minute but Erik Thommy took matters into his own hands, striking into the goal from 30 yards out. Time was running out and Union were unable to overturn the deficit in the remaining four minutes of additional time.
A disappointing week ends 2019 for 1. FC Union Berlin, but the 12 months have been memorable. The squad will return in January for the winter training camp in Spain before the first Bundesliga game of 2020 away to RB Leipzig on January 18.
