1. FC Union Berlin: Wisbereit – Barry, Prosche, Kühling, Shabany (71st minute Wilp) – Sliskovic (90th Drahn), Blaszczak, Alkan (46th Mewes), Kannegießer (63rd Megaptche), Sakoufakis – Bogdanov (63rd Engel) 

Chemnitzer FC: Wimmer – Mensah, Kunstmann, Gruschwitz, Tänzer – Klose (46th Lorenz), Gonzalez (71st Gehmlich 86th Rathmann), Lenz, Schmidt (61st Lewin), Kühnreich (46th Lindner) – Ullmann (86th Hiecke) 

Goals: 1-0 Bogdanov (5th minute), 1-1 Ullmann (23rd), 2-1 Bogdanov (35th), 3-1 Bogdanov (52nd), 3-2 Tänzer (73rd), 4-2 Mewes (79th), 4-3 Mensah (80th) 

Spectators: 192 

Early goal paves the way for halftime lead  

Under a cloudy sky and a fresh breeze, both teams started the fourth matchday of the DFB-Nachwuchsliga. The Berliners showed from the beginning who the home team was, and after only a few moments played, they had a good opportunity. An attack carried out over the left offensive side ended up in the penalty area with Kannegießer, who however was thwarted by the Chemnitz goalkeeper. Just moments later it happened: After a long ball, striker Bogdanov chased the ball, fought off two defenders, and finished with a clean strike to make it 1-0.  

Following that, the hosts continued to dominate the game. Nevertheless, the Saxons managed to set some pinpricks through quick counterattacks after the first quarter of an hour. Around the middle of the first half, it was one of these rapid counteractions that brought CFC the equalizer. The Chemnitz team managed to break into the penalty area over the left side. The subsequent shot was saved by keeper Wisbereit, but the CFC striker was ready to slide in the rebound. After that, the Red-Whites became more active again and immediately tried to regain the lead. Following a well-executed attack, Bogdanov found himself in front of the opposing goalkeeper again and restored the lead. After that, not much happened and the Berliners went into halftime with a 2-1 lead.  

Goal-rich second half 

At the start of the second half, the Köpenicker made two substitutions to bring new energy into the match. The players quickly implemented this, as just a few minutes after the restart, Bogdanov headed in to make it 3-1, achieving a hat trick. Nevertheless, the Saxons did not relent and did not give up. After some substitutions, there were chances on both sides. Midway through the second half, a player from the visitors took a shot from nearly twenty meters, which landed in the bottom left corner of the goal and the Chemnitz team reduced the lead again. 

This brought a lot of momentum into the final quarter hour. The Chemnitz team now wanted to equalize, but the Berliners were determined to increase their lead again. Mewes managed to do so, increasing it to 4-2. After a free kick, the wide player got to the ball before the opposing goalkeeper and sent it into the net. Even with ten minutes remaining, the visitors still believed in a draw. Shortly after the Union goal, the Saxons were successful again. Chemnitz had a good double chance, but it was blocked twice. However, the third shot found its way into the goal. This opened the match again, but the Eisernen managed to bring the tight match over the finish line. With their fourth win in four games, the Red-Whites started perfectly into the current season.  

Voice on the match  

A-junior coach Marie-Louise Eta after the match: “Overall, it was not a good game from us today. In the first half, we had a lot of possession, but we didn’t finish the situations well and made too many wrong decisions in our play. The goals against us came too easily; we just watched as the opponent shot the ball into the net. There was too little from us in all areas today, and we need to significantly improve for the next game.” 

Outlook 

Next Saturday, the 30th of August, the next match of the DFB-Nachwuchsliga will take place. Away against FC Energie Cottbus, the U19 of 1. FC Union Berlin will kick off the fifth matchday at 12:00.