Union Berlin 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Bundesliga, Matchday 13
18/12/20
Dortmund lost their first match under Edin Terzic having been out fought by a lively Union Berlin side in the German capital.
Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi put a team that is only playing their second season in Bundesliga ahead on 57’ with a smart headed finish.
Youssoufa Moukoko, the youngest player to ever play in Bundesliga, scored his first goal to drag Dortmund level.
Marvin Freidrich gave the Iron Ones a deserved lead on 78’ with a powerful header from a corner.
The win moves Union Berlin within one of Dortmund who could find themselves eight behind Bayern and nine behind Leverkusen in what is fast turning into a disastrous league campaign for the BlackYellows.
1st half – Moukoko millimetres from debut goal
It was hard enough work for an ‘Edin Terzic Dortmund’, the new incarnation of the Ruhr Valley giant after the sacking of Lucien Favre last weekend, to beat 14th placed Werder Bremen. Union Berlin would be an entirely different beast.
‘The Iron Ones’ have had a very productive two years, being promoted to Bundesliga and beating Dortmund 3-1 in the corresponding home match during their debut season in Germany’s top flight.
This season they’ve shot to sixth in the table with impressive stats including only losing one of their previous eleven and being unbeaten at home in the last four.
No surprise then that the first chance fell to the capital side. What was surprising was it came within two minutes. A simple ball over the top played in Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi with Hummels scrambling and Roman Burki having to save.
Replacing managers can revitalise ailing teams but Dortmund still look the same muddled, chaotic outfit they did under Favre.
Maybe it’s down to the missing Haaland – out with injury – however a club cannot build round a player with a release clause of a paltry (in today’s market) 90m Euros, to be activated in 2022.
So turn to the other star of the team, the – according to Manchester United – £100m rated Jadon Sancho.
Sancho has been off colour this season having not yet opened his account in Bundesliga 2020/21.
Sancho showed his ability to take on a man on 7’ with a jinking run that ended in a shot blocked for a corner.
On 9 minutes Sancho showed a tentative nature perhaps lacking in confidence as he was played in by 16-year-old wonderkid Youssoufa Moukoko, but the English forward’s shot lacked any conviction and was picked up by Union Berlin keeper Andreas Luthe.
Thomas Meunier looked rusty on his return to the side. The Belgium fullback, who is normally solid for Dortmund, gave the ball away with slack passing a number of times. First Cedric Teuchert failed to capitalise on 17’ then Sheraldo Becker failed to take advantage on 29’.
The closest the deadlock came to being broken would have seen the youngest player to ever play in Bundesliga’s 57 year history score his debut goal. Right on the stroke of half-time Moukoko was played in but his shot slammed off Luthe’s near post and back into play.
The miss of the half fell to Manuel Akanji who, moments before Moukoko’s miss, skied a half volley over the bar from six yards.
Schalke sack boss after 79days
Borussia Dortmund’s local rival and one of the historic teams of Bundesliga has sacked their third coach of the season. Schalke is in disarray this season. The Gelsenkirchen club and fellow giant of the Ruhr Valley have had a calamity of a campaign so far. The Royal Blues have not won a game in Bundesliga 20/21 – drawing four and losing eight – and sit rock bottom of the league six points from safety. It led to the sacking of latest coach Manuel Baum this afternoon. Dutchman Huub Stevens takes the reigns for the fourth time having secured legendary status after leading the club to Uefa Cup success in 1996/97.
Further articles:
–Favre sacked by BVB: Analysis and reaction
–Terzic wins first game in charge of Dortmund 2-1 v Werder: Match report
–Brilliant Lewandowski rescues Bayern as Bavarian giants come from behind to beat unlucky Wolfsburg: Match report
–Relive some of the ‘miracle in Medinah’ as local legend Paul Lawrie withdraws from the European Tour
2nd half – Game comes to life as Moukoko gets his goal
In the second half both teams began sizing each other up.
Union Berlin landed the first jab. Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi finished smartly from six yards after losing marker Giovanni Reyna at a corner on 57’.
Queue the old man in the flat cap having to manually push the ‘1’ sign into the board like they do on golf and county cricket scoreboards, a reminder of Union Berlin’s dramatic history on the wrong side of the wall.
That old man might have spluttered out his pipe before having the arduous task of putting in the next ‘1’ when Dortmund equalised.
What a goal it was by Youssoufa Moukoko. A ‘remember the name’ moment as the striker slipped into the box and slammed a first time finish into the net.
In the last two games it’s looked like the 16-year-old was taken out the fire and thrown into the frying pan a little too soon, however tonight Moukoko looked ready, the forward finding numerous chances, the best being a smart turn and shot well saved on 63’.
But Dortmund, like they have been doing for much of the season, can’t rely on one man.
Union Berlin deservedly retook the lead on 78’ from a corner. Defender Marvin Freidrich found acres of space in the box and buried a strong header off the post and in.
Man of the match: Youssoufa Moukoko
What a goal, and after finding the net the young German forward, who made history earlier this season by being the youngest player to play in Bundesliga, and who Haaland rates better than himself, looked deadly in the box with smart turns and good attempts to try drag Dortmund back into the match. Massive future ahead.
Union Berlin, 4-4-2: Luthe (GK), Trimmel (C) (->72′), Friedrich, Knoche, Lenz, Promel, Griesbeck, Teuchert (->85′), Becker, Bulter (->66′), Awoniyi (->86′)
Subs: Karius (GK), Ryerson (->72′), Gogia (->86′), Maciejewski, Endo (->66′), Hubner, Gießelmann (->85′)
BVB, 4-2-3-1: Burki (GK), Hummels, Meunier (->80′), Akanji (->85′), Reus (C) (->72′), Witsel, Can (-80′), Guerreiro, Sancho, Reyna, Moukoko
Subs: Hitz (GK), Dahoud, Delany, Schulz (->85′), Morey (->80′), Zagadou, Brandt (->72′), Piszczek, Bellingham (->80′)
Goals: Awoniyi 57′, Moukoko 60′, Freidrich 78′
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 