Amsterdam/Berlin Union of Berlins incredible winning streak is in the Europa League ripped – however, the Iron 2023 remain undefeated and can dream of the round of 16 more than ever.
Union coach Urs Fischer (56) was satisfied with his team’s performance, but struggled with the exploitation of opportunities. © Matthias Koch/dpa
Because the Köpenickers scored a more than impressive 0-0 at Ajax Amsterdam and put the Dutch record champions in their place.
Union was even clearly the better team, which is all the more astonishing when you consider that four years ago the club played in the 2nd Bundesliga and played against the millions of a four-time Champions League winner.
Sure, Ajax had a lot more possession, but they couldn’t create much danger from it. The hosts didn’t get more than half chances against the usual compact Berliners.
Bold appearance at Ajax: Union Berlin can continue to dream of the round of 16!
And so coach Urs Fischer (56) was also very satisfied with the performance of his team after the end of the game: “Compliments to the team for how disciplined they played it over ninety minutes.”
However, the Swiss struggled with one thing, because with a bit of luck or maybe a little less bad luck, the club in the capital could have stolen a well-deserved 1-0 win from Amsterdam.
Union’s Morten Thorsby (26, right) could have been crowned “Man of the Match” in the second half. © MAURICE VAN STEEN / ANP / AFP
“We had one or two scoring chances where you should have scored in the end. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out,” complained the 56-year-old.
This lack of luck or bad luck can be summed up in the person of Morten Thorsby (26). First he gave the flying Norwegian in the 57th minute in Holland, but his spectacular diving header was too central, before the VAR denied his supposed opening goal nine pointer turns later, because the ball touched the arm of the 26-year-old when he accepted the ball with his chest.
So be it, because the result is “certainly a good starting position for the second leg”, as Fischer stated, because the Iron Team’s strength at home is well known – whether word of this has gotten to Amsterdam will be revealed next Thursday (9 p.m./ RTL) in the Alte Försterei.
Union Berlin blog: Schalke and Hertha Zehlendorf as a task
Before that, however, the FCU still has to deal with the “disdainful” everyday life in the Bundesliga when the bottom of the table Schalke 04 makes a guest appearance in Wuhlheide on Sunday (3.30 p.m. / DAZN).
Finally, it should not go unmentioned that the second trip to the Netherlands was nicer than the first for the fans, and that doesn’t just refer to the result, because the 1:3 defeat against Feyenoord Rotterdam also made unpleasant experiences for the iron loafers with the local law enforcement officers.
There was no trace of that in Amsterdam and so the Union supporters once again celebrated a lavish party with non-stop singing and pyros in the guest block of the sold-out Johan Cruyff Arena.