1. FC Union Berlin climbed into fifth in the Bundesliga table on Sunday afternoon with a superb 2-0 win over Holstein Kiel. It was a victory anchored by another clean sheet, but given the shine by two of the youngest players on the pitch, Aljoscha Kemlein, who scored in the 18^th minute, and Tom Rothe, who headed home in the 89^th.

SV Holstein Kiel: Weiner - Ivezić, Erras (68. Puchacz), Komenda - Becker, Knudsen (46. Machino), Porath (79. Arp) - Remberg, Gigović (79. Schulz) – Bernhardsson (34. Skrzybski), Pichler 

1. FC Union Berlin: Rönnow – Trimmel, Doekhi, Vogt, Leite, Rothe – Kemlein, Khedira – Skarke (27. Jeong), Vertessen (75. Benés), Hollerbach (75. Siebatcheu) 

The starting XI

Following the international break, Bo Svensson made only one change from the win against Borussia Dortmund a fortnight ago. In goal, as ever, was Frederik Rönnow, behind his trusty back three of Diogo Leite, Kevin Vogt and Danilho Doekhi. Christopher Trimmel retained his place on the right-hand side along with the captain’s armband, mirrored by Tom Rothe, returning to Kiel, on the left.

Aljoscha Kemlein and Rani Khedira anchored the midfield behind a front three of Yorbe Vertessen, Benedict Hollerbach and Tim Skarke, in for Woo-yeong Jeong up front.

Attendance:  15.034 

Goals: 0-1 Kemlein (18.), 0-2 Rothe (89.) 

Rothe crosses, Kemlein rises. The youngsters give Union the lead.

Many had talked of Steven Skrzybski playing against a Union side for only the third time since he departed Köpenick - the year before Union secured promotion to the Bundesliga. When he came onto the pitch as a first half substitute, his Fußballgott was almost as loud as that given to the current team, but it was his successor as the beloved, Union youth come-good, Aljoscha Kemlein, who would steal his sunshine on what was a gorgeous day on the Baltic coast, as well as that of fellow youngster, Tom Rothe.

Rothe has now played six times for Union. He's scored two. But in that he's practically a dinosaur. Kemlein had only made his first Bundesliga start two weeks ago. Now, he had his very first goal for the club. 

When he did find the back of the net, it had most certainly been coming. Union had started the match in full-flow – their new front three combining immediately, as Kevin Vogt chipped the most delinquent of balls over the Kiel back three, springing their offside trap for Tim Skarke, who cut back for Yorbe Vertessen. The Belgian’s cross was headed just wide by a flying Benedict Hollerbach who was gliding through the middle.

There was time for Kemlein, already looking more than at home in the middle, to cutely find Rani Khedira in the middle – Khedira was at the heart of Union’s attacking moves, one ball lofted over the top for Skarke, another slid through the middle for Vertessen.

Kiel hit back and it took a sliding tackle from Danilho Doekhi to stop Benedikt Pichler in his tracks – the Dutchman’s intervention timed to perfection (one matched by his colleague at the back, Diogo Leite, when he tackled Armin Gigovic after 15 minutes). Pichler then saw his overhead kick inside the box go a few inches over Frederik Rönnow’s crossbar. He perhaps might have made better contact to the ball had he and Nicolai Remberg challenged for the same ball.

It was the other youngster - a returnee, having spent a superb last season here in Kiel – Tom Rothe, who supplied the ball for Union’s opener. Hollerbach received the ball out on the left, knocking it back to Rothe, who cut back and crossed with his right-foot towards the back post. It was hit precisely to the gap in which Kemlein was loitering.

The 19-year-old found the 20-year-old. They had carved Kiel open like grizzled old pro’s.

Kemlein leapt, his shoulders back, his eyes open, head up and flicked the ball with enough power to leave Timon Weiner diving helplessly, stretching for a ball already goal bound. “It was a really good day”, said the Berliner after the final whistle, humble as ever, yet with a huge grin across his face. “I’m happy to have been able to help the team with my goal”.

For all the joy enveloping the almost 2,000 Unioner in the Holstein-Stadion’s stands, it wasn’t all roses. Tim Skarke went down clutching his knee having chased the ball as it hounded its way towards Weiner’s hands – it was a sign of his determination, but he grimaced miserably as he limped off, replaced by Woo-yeong Jeong with only 25 minutes played.

Union suddenly had an issue to deal with at the back, as the ball was cleared off the line by Khedira after Rönnow couldn’t gather, having rushed out to deal with a deep out-swinging cross in from the right which he had two attempts at, jostled all the way. It probably looked worse than it was – Union’s vice-captain was next to Kevin Vogt on the line.

Khedira was superb all over the pitch throughout – the link in the chain; his tackle on Magnus Knudsen in minute 40 saw him spin immediately and start up another break as his side continued to pose danger at the other end – Jeong immediately showing his verve on the ball and his constant will to drive towards goal. Trimmel drove just wide after Vertessen’s parried effort.

Union finished the half in a blaze as Marko Ivezic headed Jeong’s stinging shot away, before Timo Becker blocked Rothe’s similarly well-struck effort. Trimmel then drew a more routine save from Weiner – the keeper taking the ball at chest height, cradling it like a precious object. But, they still had time to run the clock down a little at the end, their defensive solidity providing them with both assurance and comfort.

The fans continued their roar throughout – they had not stopped and Union still hadn’t conceded a first-half goal this season.

Rönnow holds the hosts at bay, before Rothe puts the icing on the cake late on

Rönnow was immediately called into action almost as soon as the second-half had gotten underway. He flung himself to his right, palming away Nicolai Remberg’s tricky dipping shot, hit on the bounce and leaning backwards with barely a minute played.

He made an even better one seven minutes in – one handed this time, diving the other way from Finn Porath’s spectacular curling effort. For all the strength and decisiveness of their backline, the stopper was outstanding yet again, and Svensson made certain to mention his performance afterwards.

Neither side were particularly keen to sit back. First, Vertessen was bustled off the ball in the box by Becker, before Weiner had to be alert to stop Jeong on the run following another sky-scraping pass out from Vogt.

Kiel, however, were enjoying their best spell of play and they kept on coming at Union – they had recovered from 2-0 down for a point against Leverkusen in their previous game - but Becker flashed his shot across goal and wide from 20 yards out with his left. Vogt then stuck out a foot before Shuto Machino could get his low cross off into the box; Pichler headed over from near the penalty spot.

There was an increasingly worried look on Svensson’s face to match the pain on Vertessen’s after an hour, as Remberg caught the flying Belgian lunging, stud on shin – the referee, Martin Thomsen, bore as much of the brunt from the Dane’s tongue, having waved play on.

Vertessen returned to the pitch following treatment soon enough, however it was tough out there – Jeong was soon on the floor, as was Khedira, both following further crunching tackles as Union dragged themselves back into things having ridden out the worst of the Baltic storm.

Back on the front foot, belying his own age, Trimmel then wafted a pass in from the right, bending back, away from the goal, which Hollerbach was a hairsbreadth away from as he frantically slid into the six-yard box.

Union still had to be cautious – Vogt made another challenge on Pichler inside the area which almost looked too lackadaisical to be believed, as he seemed to be beaten inside out by the Kiel striker. Marvin Schulz planted a header straight at Rönnow when he had time to either pick his spot, or to nod it down for the arriving Pichler, screaming for the ball on the six-yard line. Union had a mastery over midfield by now, with Kemlein and Khedira always demanding the ball when they did not have it – always keeping it moving with minimal fuss when they did.

With two minutes of normal time to play, Doekhi crashed a header against the back post, but his disappointment was soon tempered as Rothe capped his return to the Baltic coast with his own wonderfully placed header following the substitute László Bénes’ corner – he had charged into the box and timed the ball perfectly, heading it downwards, straight across the on-looking goalkeeper.

Sometimes the old cliché comes true; it’s the ones you love who always hurt you the most.

It was the final flourish of a fine performance at the famous port, cemented by yet another clean sheet. Svensson was almost lavish in his praise, “I'm very proud of the team, because it wasn't an easy game today”, but the final word should indeed go to Kemlein.

“We don't want to rest on our laurels – we want to continue to take each game as it comes and focus on the basics in order to bring our team spirit to the pitch in every game.”

 The kids are alright after all – Union are flying.