Report: Union Berlin held to draw by MSV Duisburg
1. FC Union Berlin and MSV Duisburg shared a point each followng a 0-0 draw at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on Saturday.
1. FC Union XI: Busk; Torrejon (Hartel 75'), Leistner, Friedrich; Pedersen, Trimmel, Kroos, Prömel (Hedlund 60'); Daube, Skrzybski, Hosiner
Both Marc Torrejon and Steven Skrzybski were passed fit following a few days of team training and returned to the starting XI - the only two changes from the defeat at Greuther Fürth on Easter Sunday. Torrejon was installed into the three-man defensive combination with U19 captain Lennard Maloney dropping back to the bench. Skrzybski, the club’s top scorer with 12 goals, partnered Philipp Hosiner in attack.
Union captain Felix Kroos offered the first test of Duisburg keeper Mark Flekken, striking powerfully on the half volley into the Dutchman’s grasp. The ball over the top of the Duisburg defence continued to threaten throughout the first half and looked the most likely route to goal in front of the Waldseite. Dennis Daube managed to round the keeper after 20 minutes, but Skrzybski blazed the chance wide from a tight angle.
Nevertheless, Union’s top scorer persevered and created a great chance for Hosiner but the Austrian stuck wide of the target. Hosiner almost pulled off a sensational overhead kick attempt in the 36th minute following good wing play from Christopher Trimmel but Flekken was once again on point with his reflexes.
Unchanged at the restart, the pattern of play changed little. Union looked to put pressure in behind through Hosiner and Skrzybski, while Duisburg were compact in the middle but offered little going forward to trouble goalie Jakob Busk. Coach Andre Hofschneider went for the throat on the hour mark, introducing Simon Hedlund in place of defensive-midfielder Grischa Prömel.
On 68 minutes, Flekken kept the Köpenick club at bay, parrying wide a long-range strike from Trimmel, which was certain to be heading for the top corner. Marcel Hartel replaced Torrejon for the final quarter of an hour as Hofschneider shuffled his cards in search of the winning hand. But there would be no winner in the end as the points were shared.
"We shouldn't focus only on the negatives. Here at home we kept a clean sheet defensively. That's the foundation for success in future matches and that's what should give us the motivation going forward. The situation during the last weeks and months certainly left a mark on some of the players. It's possible that's the reason why we sometimes chose to pass the ball to the backline instead of the riskier one ino attack. But what's important is that we keep our calm and don't lose control," said Hofschneider in the post-game media briefing.
