Iron Legends:

Mastered challenges with flying colors.

The traditional team of 1. FC Union Berlin was once again challenged twice over the weekend. On Saturday, the journey took them to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern near Neustrelitz. Just 24 hours later, as part of the 650th anniversary celebration of the municipality, a highlight was the friendly match against SG Schulzendorf on the outskirts of Berlin.

At SV Union Wesenberg, the Eisernen Legenden were warmly welcomed by the hosts. A downside of the event was the heavy rainfall. The sky had opened its floodgates wide, forcing both teams to engage in a "water battle." Very unfortunate for the organizer, who nonetheless made the best of the situation for the approximately 400 spectators.

On the lush green pitch, the Köpenickers were dominant at all times. With two goals from Ronny Nikol and Chrissi Quiring, both teams went into a short break with hot drinks. "Approach the second half with the same dedication and use concentrated passing play to keep the opponent at bay." With these brief words, Coach Dr. Detlef Schwarz sent his men into the second half. Here, there was then a balanced game on the pitch without any notable highlights. In the end, the Köpenickers emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.

After the match, the Eisernen Legenden proved to be enduring, fulfilling the numerous autograph requests of the fans. While enjoying food and drinks, many conversations took place with the spectators who had remained despite the rain.

On Sunday, Coach Schwarz rotated his lineup somewhat compared to the previous day. The team was slightly rejuvenated with the inclusion of Björn Jopek and Chinedu Ede, both new additions to the traditional squad for the summer of 2025. With an average age of about 46 years, the traditional team looked into the eyes of an ambitious and youthful squad from the hosts, which averaged under 25 years. The SG Schulzendorf was agile, exhibiting great eagerness and pace, dominating the game from the start. In contrast, the oldies from Köpenick defended themselves by utilizing the large pitch, employing clever defensive strategies and secure ball sequences. The visual supremacy of the young hosts did not necessarily lead to many scoring opportunities. In the only real chance for the Schulzendorfers, the skill of "old master" Oskar Kosche shone through. He cleanly and safely intercepted the ball from the foot of the Schulzendorfer striker. An appreciative murmur from the approximately 1,200 spectators in the wide arena was clearly audible.

The 0-0 halftime score was followed by a balanced game in the second half. All fans and neutral spectators were already prepared for a goalless end when the Köpenickers made a significant defensive mistake seven minutes before the end. The Schulzendorfers were immediately ready and coldly capitalized on the opportunity for what seemed to be the winning goal. Coach Schwarz reacted immediately, dismantling the central defense in favor of another attacking player, which led the Red-Whites to more attacking actions but only a few chances. In the final minute, following a corner kick, Martin Söhndel went to the ground in a duel with his opponent in the penalty area. The resulting penalty was converted sharply and precisely by match captain Christian Stuff for a well-deserved equalizer recognized by all. Thus, the entertaining match on the field ended with a fair draw.   

Even in Schulzendorf, the path to the changing room was used for small talk with spectators, fulfilling autograph requests, and taking drink breaks. In both matches over the last weekend, the Eisernen Legenden displayed team spirit and iron moral.

+10

The following players were active on 12 and 13 July 2025:

Goalkeeper: Oskar Kosche

Players: Christopher Quiring, Ronny Nikol (captain), Thomas Boden, Torsten Mattuschka, Dirk Kamin, Chibuike Okeke, Christoph Menz, Tobias Döge, Jörg Hermann, Chinedu Ede, Philip Möhle, René Kanow, Martin Söhndel, Sascha Vallentin, Christian Stuff, Björn Jopek, Björn Brunnemann, Tom Schneider

Staff: Dr. Detlef Schwarz (coach), Manfred Kühn (physiotherapist), Stefanie Vogler (photo & media), Dirk Jürschik (team manager)

Other dates:

  • Sat. | 19.07.2025 | from 15:00 | BSV Rot Weiß Schönow e. V. | sports field | Schönerlinder Str. 25 a, 16321 Bernau, OT Schönow

  • Sat. | 26.07.2025 | from 15:00 | KSV Prignitz e. V. | Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark | Berliner Str. 17, 19348 Perleberg