Union Berlin come up short away at Heidenheim
A frustrating night:
1. FC Union Berlin fell to a 2-1 defeat at 1. FC Heidenheim on Friday at the Voith-Arena.
Urs Fischer's team led at the turnaround after a 23rd-minute goal from Robert Zulj. However, Heidenheim fought back, scoring two quick-fire goals in the second half without reply from Robert Glatzel and Marc Schnatterer to turn the game on its head.
1. FC Heidenheim: Müller; Busch, Beermann, Mainka, Theuerkauf (Multhaup 76); Dorsch, Griesbeck (Feick 12); Dovedan, Schnatterer (Reithmeir 83); Glatzel
1. FC Union Berlin: Gikiewicz; Trimmel, Friedrich, Hübner, Reichel (Mees 84); Kroos, Schmiedebach, Zulj; Gogia (Mane 65), Hartel (Abdullahi 65), Andersson
With Grischa Prömel serving a one-game suspension, Fischer turned to Zulj, who was given a starting place in the middle of the park. Marcel Hartel took the place of Carlos Mane who picked up a shoulder injury during last Friday's win over Ingolstadt, whilst Ken Reichel replaced Christopher Lenz. The early passages of the game were fairly tame as a result of the horrible conditions, which has swept across the country this past week. Rafal Gikiewicz denied Dennis Thomalla early on, but Union grew into the match and started to dominate after the first 15 minutes. Sebastian Andersson and Akaki Gogia combined brilliantly on 23 minutes, the winger roaming free and stinging the palms of Kevin Müller. Zulj was on hand to pick up on the rebound and take advantage of the handling mistake from the Heidenheim goalkeeper.
Although there were no substitutions at the break, the game hardly resembled the first 45 minutes. Heidenheim switched to a high press and put Union into difficult situations. Glatzel found enough space to head in the equaliser on 48 minutes from Schnatterer's corner kick. Eight minutes later, the Heidenheim number seven picked up on a loose second ball and proceeded to break through the Union defence and put the home side ahead with a neat left-foot strike. Gikiewicz thwarted Schnatterer shortly after as the attacking midfielder caused problems from a free-kick situation. Mane, introduced after 65 minutes, was close to pulling Union level, but Müller defended his goal well as the Portuguese winger came in at the back post. The home side's outstanding home record was embodied in their siege defending towards the end of the game. Müller and Marnon Busch somehow managed to keep out two efforts from Andersson and Zulj, practically on the Heidenheim goal line. In the end, Frank Schmidt's team held on to the points and extend Heidenheim's unbeaten run against Union Berlin to six matches home and away.
Fischer's men will be out to bounce back immediately following the upcoming international break, with SC Paderborn coming to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday March 23. The match is sold out.
