1. FC Union Berlin are through to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. On Wednesday evening, the Eisernen won the city derby against Hertha BSC with 3:1 and secured their ticket to the last eight. The game was highly entertaining – starting with three goals in the first 60 seconds.
After the 0-0 draw in Wolfsburg, Hertha coach Tayfun Korkut played Boyata, Tousart and Serdar instead of Ekkelenkamp, Maolida and Torunarigha, who injured his ankle in training. Union coach Urs Fischer left it at one exchange compared to the 2:1 against Hoffenheim: Ryerson was preferred to Trimmel on the right side.
The game was less than a minute old when Union had already set their sights on the Hertha goal three times. After only ten seconds, Kruse pulled the trigger, and after the following corner, it was Voglsammer and Heintz who finished.
These scenes kicked off a fast-paced and entertaining city derby in which the visitors were on top in the first 30 minutes and took the lead through a masterpiece by Voglsammer: After a cross from Kruse, the attacker dived to direct the ball into the far corner – 0:1 (11.).
Two times the VAR checks
Union made the grippier impression, but after half an hour Hertha also registered in the game and became dangerous themselves. Tousart’s shot was blocked in the nick of time (31st), then referee Deniz Aytekin first took away a handball penalty on the other side of the pitch (34th) and then disallowed a Serdar goal for offside (45.+3).
There was hardly any breathing space after the break either. Darida had the 1:1 on his foot from five metres (47th), a little later it was one after the other: first Stark scored an own goal (50th), then Khedira also directed the ball into the net on the wrong side (54th), before Knoche marked the 1:3 with a volley after a free kick (55th).
Serdar’s goal comes too late
Now Union had a clear advantage, but Hertha could have scored again at any time. The Alte Dame built up pressure, but Boyata was pushed on a good header chance (69th), and Serdar’s 2:3 after a corner finally came too late (90.+5).
So in the end, Union rejoiced. The Eisernen advanced to the quarter-finals and retained the chance to return to the Olympiastadion in May.
Hertha will return to the Bundesliga on Sunday (5.30 p.m.) with a home match against FC Bayern, while Union will play Gladbach on Saturday (3.30 p.m.).
