3-1 win once morest Ajax
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1. FC Union moves into the round of 16 of the Europa League
It is another milestone in the history of 1. FC Union Berlin: Thanks to a strong performance, the Köpenickers beat Ajax Amsterdam 3-1 in the An der Alten Försterei stadium and are thus in the round of 16 of the Europa League.
1. FC Union Berlin has made it into the round of 16 in the Europa League. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Ajax Amsterdam, the Köpenickers won the second leg at the An der Alten Försterei stadium 3-1 (2-0) on Thursday evening and thus advanced to the next round. The second half in particular offered the fans a decent offensive spectacle. The Berlin goals were scored by Robin Knoche (20′), Josip Juranovic (44′) and Danilho Doekhi (50′).
The round of 16 first leg will take place on March 9th. Which opponent the Köpenicker will then meet will be decided in the draw this Friday (12 noon).
1st half: Union scores twice
In front of 22,012 spectators, the guests from the Netherlands started the game and let the ball circle through their own ranks. However, this did not result in great opportunities because Union defended attentively in the last third and was able to stop dangerous offensive action in good time. Ajax only managed to get a serious shot following a corner, but attacker Mohammed Kudus headed the ball wide of the goal to the left (3′).
The Köpenickers, on the other hand, tried it as usual with fast switching and earned the first corner in the 16th minute. Josip Juranovic executed and crossed the ball high to the far post, where Danilho Doekhi attempted a header that was hand-blocked by Amsterdam full-back Calvin Bassey. Referee Ricardo de Burgos from Spain allowed play to continue, but looked at the scene once more following being advised by VAR and awarded a penalty. Robin Knoche converted this somewhat happily: Ajax keeper Geronimo Rulli was still there and deflected the ball to the inside of the post, from where it went into the goal (20′).
A little shock for the guests, who also had significantly more ball possession followingwards, but hardly scored any goals worth mentioning. Although striker Kudus pushed the ball over the line to equalize in the 43rd minute, he was previously offside, which is why the goal didn’t count. In a direct counterattack, 1. FC Union continued to expand their lead out of nowhere. Juranovic tried a circled shot from the back that was actually too unplaced. But the ball slipped under the glove of the Amsterdam goalkeeper into the goal (44th).
2nd half: Offensive exchange of blows
The second half started spectacularly. Just a few minutes following the restart, Union’s defense misjudged a cross from the left and the ball sailed past everyone to Kudus, who was completely free and scored the goal (47′). However, the hosts didn’t let this unsettle them and shortly followingwards restored the old distance. After a corner was blocked, the second ball landed at the far post, where defender Doekhi came in just right and made it 3-1 with a header (50′).
The game stayed lively as the game progressed. Ajax were far from giving up and the very active attacker Kudus was on target once more in the 61st minute. From a central position in the penalty area, however, he put the ball just wide of the left post (61′). Union coach Urs Fischer reacted and brought two pairs of fresh legs in Morten Thorsby and Jordan.
The strong Köpenicker defense mastered the pressure phase of the guests confidently and hardly allowed any chances in the final phase of the game. Again and once more they captured the ball and tried to quickly bring it forward to lightning sprinter Sheraldo Becker, who had two good chances to increase the lead even further following counterattacking in the 70th and 83rd minutes. Ajax keeper Rulli safely parried both degrees.
With full concentration, the Berliners then brought the game over time. Shortly before the final whistle, emotions boiled over once more, especially among the Dutch, and defender Edson Alvarez saw the yellow card following a tough duel once morest Thorsby. When a pack formed that followed, he didn’t give up and bullied, which is why the referee sent him off with a yellow-red.
Even following the final whistle, both teams clashed once more, but the situation calmed down quickly and 1. FC Union celebrated one of the greatest successes in the club’s history together with its fans: reaching the round of 16 in the Europa League.
The live ticker to read
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, February 23, 2023, 9 p.m
