Union Berlin can continue to dream of the final in the Olympic Stadium – because St. Pauli literally slips out of the cup!
The Irons win the cup quarter-finals after a 2-1 deficit against second division team St. Pauli, and are in the semi-finals for the second time in their club history. They even reached the final in the 2000/2001 season, but lost 2-0 to Schalke.
Union also had a much better start to the game, but the guests scored.
21. Minute: After a foul by Baumgartl, Kyereh gets a free kick from almost 20 meters and converts it flat under the wall into the goalkeeper corner. Union keeper Rönnow doesn’t look good at all – 1-0 for the outsider with the first shot on goal.
The Irons were hardly shocked by the early deficit: Just three minutes later, Gießelmann missed the direct answer. After a cross from Trimmel, he is a step too far at the second post and can no longer get the ball properly.
Even after that, Union continues to put pressure on. The hosts with more ball possession appear again and again near the penalty area. Problem: In the last third there is usually a lack of precision.
With the half-time whistle but still the balance. With a long ball, Smarsch slips away briefly, allowing Awoniyi to get the ball. The St. Pauli keeper was able to fend off his goal, but he was powerless when Becker added the ball – 1:1 (45th minute).
Nothing happens up front for a long time after the break – until the second slip of the day!
After a wide ball, Medic slips just before his own sixteen. Voglsammer, who was substituted on before, reacted at lightning speed and sent the ball from around eleven meters into the left corner – the 2:1 (75th) through the joker and the decision!
Union captain Christopher Trimmel said after the game: “That’s something special. We wanted to get on and we did that well. We were aggressive and courageous on the ball. In the end, it’s a deserved win.”
And managing director Oliver Ruhnert is overjoyed at ‘Sky’: “I’m very happy that we’re in the last four. In terms of sport, it’s good to have such an experience in these times. That is also good for people.”
