On the day when the transfer of star player Isco bursts at the last minute, 1. FC Union Berlin still has reason to be happy: In the round of 16 of the DFB Cup, the Irons throw VfL Wolfsburg out. This also ends a gigantic winning streak by coach Niko Kovac.
Union Berlin has shaken off the transfer vortex surrounding Isco and remains on the road to success in the DFB Cup. The Bundesliga runners-up beat VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 (1-1), advanced to the quarter-finals with their fourth competitive win in a row - and can continue to dream of the final in their own city.
In the An der Alten Försterei stadium, Robin Knoche (12th) and Kevin Behrens (79th) scored for the Köpenickers and still ensured a holiday. Luca Waldschmidt put VfL in the lead (5th). Union completed the final phase outnumbered, Niko Gießelmann saw yellow-red after a swallow (87th).
After the league bankruptcy in Bremen, Wolfsburg conceded the second defeat in a row to say goodbye to VfL manager Jörg Schmadtke, for the manager the round of 16 was the last game in office. In addition, the personal success story of coach Niko Kovac, who had won 16 cup games in a row as a coach, broke.
However, the dominant topic around the game was the failed transfer of five-time Champions League winner Isco to Union, which failed on the home straight. The ex-real star had already been spotted in the morning during a medical check in the capital, but the agreement that had actually been reached before did not materialize: the club has certain limits, said managing director Oliver Ruhnert, which "contrary to the previous agreements" had been exceeded.
When asked how much this incident would affect the team, Union coach Urs Fischer replied on the Sky microphone: "You'll see, I hope not too much. Logically, that was an issue all day." And then, in heavy rain, Union got off to a rocky start. Waldschmidt gave Wolfsburg the lead right from the start after a corner, and VfL in particular continued to put the pressure on afterwards. After a short corner, Union struck on the other side, Knoche hit from close range.
The Berliners got into the game better and better, Jordan Siebatcheu only hit aluminum with his head (27th). Overall, both teams rarely managed to get dangerously in front of goal in a game that was balanced for long stretches. After the break, Union initially determined what happened, but was not compelling enough in the end. Pavao Pervan safely parried a shot from Sheraldo Becker (50'), Rani Khedira put the ball over the goal (51') - and then crossed in the final phase to score the opening goal. With the last action, newcomer Jérôme Roussillon missed a goal against his former club. A shot from the new Unioner is clarified before the line with a counterattack on the open goal.
