Player Ratings | Union Berlin 0-0 Hamburger SV – Fan protests overshadow draw

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Union Berlin welcomed Hamburger SV to Köpenick on Sunday night and served up a goalless draw, but the game will be remembered for fan protests off the pitch.

Story of the match

With Steffan Baumgart restricted to the stands after a red card last weekend, the Union Head Coach could only watch on as his Union side struggled to break down their visitors.

Die Eisernen had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the eighth minute as smart feet by Diogo Leite drew a foul from Rayan Phillippe in the HSV box.

The referee did not hesitate in awarding a penalty, but Heuer Fernandes denied Andrej Ilic from the spot with a superb outstretched save low to his right.

The incident was missed by Ultras from both sides who were protesting against Police overreach and the late kick-off.

They returned in the 16th minute to see HSV nearly take the lead.

Phillippe nearly made amends for his error in the 18th minute, but his strike from 15 yards was straight at Frederik Rönnow.

In the 40th minute, a smart corner routine provided an opening for Ilyas Ansah, but the German forward couldn’t keep his first-time effort under the bar from 18 yards.

The final chance of a tight first half fell again to Phillippe, who fired high and wide from 12 yards under pressure.

The second half was more open, and in the 49th minute, Rani Khedira had a shot saved from the edge of the box.

However, any momentum was quickly disrupted as a wall of pyrotechnics from the Union Ultras shrouded the pitch in smoke, forcing a 10-minute delay.

Once the game got back underway, HSV were in the ascendency.

Their best chance of the game came in the 72nd minute as Königsdörffer found some rare space in the Union box but flashed an effort wide of the post from eight yards out on the right.

Union went closest in the 77th minute as a Trimmel’s corner hit the near post and rebounded out to substitute, Andras Schafer, who fired widely over from 18 yards.

Moments later, Ansah sent a header over the bar from six yards as Union showed the most promise of breaking the deadlock.

In the 85th minute, Tom Rothe fired over from 12 yards with the goal gaping, wasting a wonderful chance for the hosts.

It proved to be the final goalmouth action of note as both sides played out the final ten minutes of added time without creating another chance.

There was, however, time for a late red card as a reckless challenge by Viera on Leapold Querfeld left both players on the ground needing attention.

Union Berlin:

Union Berlin lineup (5-4-1):

F. Rønnow, 7 – In truth, it was a simply day at the office, but the Union goalkeeper did what was required of him with a few good saves.
Diogo Leite, 8 – At 26, Leite may be considered an old head by some after four seasons in the Bundesliga. Yet, without a full international appearance to his name, the Portuguese defender is finally knocking on the door of selection. His performance today in attack and defence was faultless. Sliding tackles were
L. Querfeld, 7
D. Doekhi, 8
D. Köhn, 7
J. Haberer, 7
R. Khedira, 7
C. Trimmel (c), 8 – Herr Reliable. Whenever HSV showed an inkling of a counter-attack, Trimmel was one step ahead, either with an interception or drawing a foul. Another solid display from the captain.

I. Ansah, 7
O. Burke, 6 – After his hat-trick last weekend, the Scotsman could be forgiven for having a quiet game but Union fans expect more from their players and Burke struggled to have an impact.
A. Ilić, 5 – There wasn’t too much wrong with his penalty. It was a fierce shot into the corner, but the young Serbian was often outmuscled and chasing the ball as the HSV defence subdued any attacking threat.

Substitutions:

Woo-yeong Jeong, 6
A. Kemlein
A. Král
M. Ljubičić
D. Preu
M. Raab
T. Rothe, 6
A. Schäfer, 6
T. Skarke, 6

Hamburger SV:

Stuttgart lineup (4-2-3-1)

Daniel Heuer Fernandes, 9 – The Portuguese goalkeeper was formidable for HSV. His penalty save from Ilic was nothing short of astounding, an outstretched dive low to his right to deny Ilic’s powerful strike. Aside from that moment, he commanded his box well and showed good positioning to make a few tricky saves look easy.
Daniel Elfadli, 6
L. Vušković, 7
W. Omari, 6
M. Muheim (c), 6
N. Remberg, 6
Fábio Vieira, 4 – The former Arsenal midfielder struggled tonight. He seemed desperate to impress, often dropping deep to pick up the ball, as well as playing on both wings. Nevertheless, he failed to influence the game and by dropping too deep, he restricted HSV’s outlets and stifled any attacking threat. A late red card in added time for the cherry on top of a poor performance.
G. Gocholeishvili, 6
J. Dompé, 7 – Dompé was a rare bright spark for the visitors, with his pace threatening Union’s defence and finding gaps in the midfield, but he was relatively isolated in the second half as Union double-marked him.
R. Königsdörffer, 6
R. Philippe, 7 – Aside from his mistake in giving the penalty away, Philippe showed his maturity with an assured performance. He had a couple of chances that might keep him awake at night, but they were fleeting and he posed the only attacking threat for HSV.

Substitutions:

Fabio Baldé
N. Capaldo
R. Glatzel, 6
Guilherme Ramos, 6
J. Meffert
W. Mikelbrencis, 6
D. Peretz
A. Røssing-Lelesiit
A. Sambi Lokonga, 6

Player of the Match: Daniel Heuer Fernandes

The HSV goalkeeper can celebrate only his second clean sheet since May thanks to his penalty save.

Whilst Union Berlin wasted a few big chances, none were more straightforward than Ilic’s penalty.

The Serbian stepped up confidently and struck the ball cleanly towards his bottom left corner, but Heuer Fernandes had done his homework.

The penalty save will be on his career showreel as he went early to cover the ground and got a strong hand to palm the ball away.

Union still had the best of the chances after that, but failed to show composure in the final third.

The game won’t live long in the memory, but fan protests off it might.

GGFN | Oscar O’Mara