Florian Hübner and Cedric Teuchert scored either side of the interval to give 1. FC Union Berlin a 2-0 win over 2.Bundesliga outfit Würzburger Kickers in Köpenick.

The first home pre-season encounter of the summer was played behind closed doors due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in place in Berlin.

Union missed some early chances but Florian Hübner headed in the opener at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei after 38 minutes. New signing Cedric Teuchert, who joined the club from Schalke, celebrated the easiest of finishes as he got off the mark for the Köpenick club in his second appearance.

1. FC Union Berlin: Luthe; Trimmel (Liebelt 45), Knoche (Schlotterbeck 45), Hübner (Subotic 45), Dietz (Friedrich 45), Lenz (Gießelman 45); Andrich (Gentner 45), Prömel (Griesbeck 45); Endo (Taz 45), Becker (Bülter 45), Teuchert

Würzburger Kickers: Müller (Giefer 45); Meisel, Schweers, Kraulich (Hansen 45), Kwadwo (Unlu 67); Hägele (Sontheimer 45), Kopacz (Emini 67); Sane (Ronstadt 45), Flecker (Schories 67), Jurcher (Baumann 45); Bruenig (Pfeiffer 45)

After Saturday’s 3-1 season-opening win at Energie Cottbus, Urs Fischer’s side welcomed the test from promoted 2.Bundesliga club Würzburger Kickers at the Alte Försterei. A number of new faces were given a first-team run out including Japanese wide man Keita Endo and Robin Knoche. Endo’s first 45 minutes in Union colours gave a good impression of the former Yokohama F Marinos attacker who created problems for the away defence with clever movement inside and quality one-vs-one. He did force Vincent Müller into a save but it was a routine case for the Würzburger Kickers stopper. Müller saved well from Cedric Teuchert’s shot in the 25^th minute and Becker’s follow-up was deflected clear of the danger zone. Endo and Robert Andrich combined out on the left, the midfielder drifting inside but shooting well wide of the target, six minutes later. Christopher Trimmel’s set pieces are a known weapon in the Union armoury, but Michael Schiele’s side struggled to cope with the aerial threat of Hübner. The central defender was denied by a super stop from Müller after the half hour mark, but the Austrian goalie had no answer to his header on 36 minutes which nestled in the bottom corner. A rash tackle from Lion Schweers at the tail end of the half saw the Union skipper limp off a minute before the whistle was blown.

Andreas Luthe and Teuchert were the only two survivors for the second half with Fischer using the opportunity to minutes into the legs of many of his squad. Of the new additions, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niko Gießelmann and Sebastian Griesbeck came out from the dressing room, while Berkan Taz and John Liebelt earned valuable experience in the first-team fold. The second-tier side started strongly and it was Luthe’s crossbar, which prevented Luca Pfeiffer from scoring the equaliser, three minutes into the second half. But after Union’s new faces regained control of the game, the second goal was on the cards. While a defender from Würzburg was on the ground, Union continued and beat Fabian Giefer. Gießelmann’s cross picked out Christian Gentner, but Giefer’s reflex save denied the midfielder. The ball dropped out to Teuchert who easily rounded the keeper and slotted in his first goal for the club.

1. FC Union Berlin’s summer preparations for the new Bundesliga season continue with Saturday’s 15:00 home match with 3.Liga side Dynamo Dresden.