Union Berlin Cranks Up the Pressure on Wolfsburg
- Wolfsburg faces escalating difficulties amidst Union Berlin's influence
Get ready for some intense action, folks! Union Berlin's relentless point-gathering has sure put the squeeze on VfL Wolfsburg's shaky standing. The Iron Ones nabbed a 1-0 (0-0) win against the hapless squad of coach Ralph Hasenhüttl, notching points for an impressive fourth consecutive match against a higher-ranked team. Benedict Hollerbach (63rd minute) put the exclamation point on the win, securing it in front of 22,012 anxious spectators.
Things are looking mighty grim for Wolfsburg, as the European cup dream fades further into oblivion. For the fourth game in a row, they've failed to secure a win against a team ranking lower in the Bundesliga. As the 12th-placed team, they're now six points away from the coveted international spots.
On the flip side, the atmosphere in Berlin is positively buzzing, despite being just one spot and five points behind Wolfsburg. While they may not be at the top of the league, they've got an eleven-point cushion over the relegation zone, with only six games left on the calendar. Coach Steffen Baumgart can approach the final stretch with a confident swagger, even after a somewhat subdued performance.
Debut for the U-17 World Champion
Leopold Querfeld's header hit the post in the second minute, giving Wolfsburg's U-17 World Champion, David Odogu, a taste of the sold-out stadium action at the Alte Försterei, in his Bundesliga debut in his hometown. Hasenhüttl might have preferred a gentler introduction for the 18-year-old defender, but Wolfsburg's personnel crisis left Odogu with no choice but to step up to the plate. Querfeld, also just 21, then made a questionable back pass, allowing for the visitors' first opportunity. Mohammed Amoura (5th minute) missed the mark.
Union played with courage
Confidence was clearly on theside of Union, who seemed to have found their stride after a string of recent victories. They dominated the game and pressured Wolfsburg relentlessly. Ilic (17th) was a moment too late after a long throw-in from Josip Juranovic. Janik Haberer's shot (22nd) was well-saved by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Kamil Grabara. Wolfsburg started to realize that they needed to dig deeper to turn the tide. Patrick Wimmer (26th) and Amoura (36th) both couldn't quite break through Union goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow's defenses.
Union's Rani Khedira vented his frustration after referee Harm Osmers refused to award a penalty for the Berliners in the 45th minute, following a collision between Wimmer and Danilho Doekhi in the box. Khedira needed to take a deep breath again after the break when Rönnow saved against Jakub Kaminski with a powerful reflex.
Union quickly regained their composure. Even before the winning goal, Juranovic stirred things up with a long throw-in. After Querfeld won the header battle, Hollerbach scored easily from close range. Substitute Kevin Behrens had a chance to tie things up late, but he sent the ball soaring over the bar (89th).
- Union Berlin's impressive employment policy, demonstrated by their fourth consecutive win against a higher-ranked team, has heightened the pressure on VfL Wolfsburg, who are struggling to adapt with four consecutive losses against lower-ranked teams in the Bundesliga.
- The employment policy of Union Berlin, with a confidentSteffen Baumgart at the helm, has given the team an eleven-point cushion over the relegation zone, allowing them to approach the final games of the season with confidence, despite a somewhat subdued performance.
- Wolfsburg's employment policy, exacerbated by a personnel crisis, has forced the young U-17 World Champion, David Odogu, to make his Bundesliga debut in his hometown, against a more experienced Union Berlin team.
