A passionate Bremen side had to accept defeat against Union. SVW were beaten 1-0 by Union Berlin in the last Bundesliga match of the 2022/23 season. Union dominated the first half and were superior to Werder for the majority. However, Bremen’s defence stood strong for the full 45 minutes and stopped Union’s attacks time and time again. The second half was no different as Union started well and Werder defended. Rani Khedira put the hosts ahead in the final period (81’) and the game ended 1-0.
Team news: Due to a long list of absences, Ole Werner was forced to make changes in multiple positions. Lee Buchanan, Niklas Schmidt and Romano Schmid came into the starting line-up compared to the 1-1 draw against 1. FC Köln.
Starting eleven: Pavlenka - Stark, Ducksch, Bittencourt, Füllkrug, Veljkovic, Schmid, Schmidt, Buchanan, Gruev, Friedl.
The bench: Zetterer - Jung, Philipp, Dinkci, Mbom, Chiarodia.
Highlights from the first half:
1st minute: Union come out strong. The hosts are playing boldly and attempting to break through on the right. Stark, and then Pavlenka, is able to stop their attempt.
3rd minute: Khedira is passed to and jumps to head the ball, but Veljkovic is able to clear for a corner. Trimmel steps up to take the corner, which is initially cleared, but Khedira is there on the follow up. Pavlenka is able to stop the chance.
9th minute: Union try to work their way through the Bremen defence with Trimmel, Haberer and Roussillon, and win a corner. Buchanan attempts to clear it for another corner, but referee Ittrich points to the penalty spot. After a short check, however, he reverses his decision and gives the corner, which doesn’t create any danger.
16th minute: Union get a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Trimmel steps up and hits the ball low. Ducksch manages to get in the way and clear the ball for a corner. This is played in in high and Friedl goes down after a clash of heads and has to be treated.
27th minute: Werder get their first corner and Ducksch finds Philipp, who takes a shot but can’t connect with the ball correctly and it goes out for a goal kick.
38th minute: Union have a big chance. First Behrens misses a header and then Haberer slides the ball just centimetres from the goal. Union could’ve taken the lead.
43rd minute: The hosts try to play down the right again, but Friedl is switched on and clears the ball. At the other end, Ducksch and Füllkrug make their way forward. Schmidt tries to find Ducksch, but the ball is intercepted by a Union player.
45th minute: Ducksch hits a free-kick straight at the wall, and then Veljkovic, who has his back to goal, gets into the box and tries to shoot on the turn. The effort causes no trouble for Rönnow.
Highlights from the second half:
50th minute: Roussillon pulls the trigger from distance and Pavlenka manages to save for a corner, which poses no danger for Werder.
51st minute: Union win their 12th corner of the game, which eventually comes to Roussillon. He attempts a shot from range, but can’t find the target.
53rd minute: Becker scores for Union, but can’t even begin celebrating before the assistant’s flag is raised for offside!
60th minute: Bittencourt tries to play forward and hits a long pass towards the Union goal. This turns into a shot that reaches Rönnow, who has no trouble claiming the ball.
67th minute: Another corner for Union. Doekhi heads towards goal and Marvin Ducksch prevents a sure goal by heading clear, keeping the score level.
81st minute: Union take the lead. Rani Khedira finishes well in the box and scores to give Union Berlin a hard-fought 1-0 lead.
86th minute: Ducksch rises high and puts force behind the ball, but Rönnow is able to stop the attempt.
90th+2 minute: Ducksch again! Bittencourt passes to Ducksch, who fires the ball over the bar. The equaliser would have been deserved.
90th+4 minute: Full time. Union beat Werder 1-0, and will be playing Champions League football next season.
Summary: Union started the game better and Werder couldn’t create many chances for themselves. Nevertheless, a draw would have been justified, and Werder were solid in defence for 80 minutes and didn’t give the opposition much. However, Khedira’s goal prevented the Bremen side from taking a point back home in the last game of the season.
