Bundesliga
Union march on in Europe with Ajax win
Union Berlin's exceptional season produced one more phenomenal highlight as the Bundesliga side saw off Ajax to join Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League knockouts.
Union Berlin 3-1 Ajax (3-1 on agg)
Goals: 1-0 Knoche (pen.) 20', 2-0 Juranovic 44', 2-1 Kudus 47', 3-1 Doekhi 50'
Level on points with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga, Union were keen to transfer some of that domestic magic into European glory. A scoreless draw against Ajax in the first leg in Amsterdam meant that the return at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei was finely balanced. The visitors’ taking an early grip of the game in the German capital had local fans worried, if only briefly. When Calvin Bassey’s arm came into contact with a Danilho Doekhi header inside the Ajax area, Urs Fischer’s side were awarded a penalty. Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli got plenty on Robin Knoche’s subsequent spot-kick, but not enough to prevent the Berliners taking the lead. The Argentinian custodian would then play a key role in Union’s second, diving over a speculative Josip Juranovic effort from distance to put the Irons in command at the halfway point.
Ajax had no shots on target in the first leg, but the one they conjured at the start of the second half brought them back into the tie. Steven Bergwijn’s ball into the box caused all sorts of confusion in the home defence, allowing Mohammed Kudus to flick in for 2-1. The ensuing silence was short lived. A Juranovic corner from the left was met squarely by former Ajax youth academy product Doekhi, who powered a close-range header high into the net to spark further jubilation among the red-and-white ranks in Köpenick. Kudus could, and should have reduced the arrears again, but the 22-year-old smashed wide when well placed on the left. At the other end, Sheraldo Becker twice saw efforts well saved by Rulli as the home side looked to kill off the visiting challenge. The misses would matter little in the end, as Union made it one more night to remember in their remarkable recent history.
Match stats
- Juranovic scored his first goal for Union since his winter switch to the German capital from Celtic.
- Rotterdam-born Doekhi was with Jong Ajax from 2016-18.
- Knoche has now scored six goals in all competitions this season. He last netted from the spot in the 2-1 Bundesliga win in Leipzig earlier this month.
- Union are still in contention for three trophies this season, with the Irons also into the last eight of the DFB Cup.
- Ajax youth product Becker has registered a single-season personal best eight goals and seven assists in all competitions so far in 2022/23.
- Fischer, who turned 57 this week, has overseen 191 competitive games as Union coach (W87, D52, L52).
- No team has managed as many as Union's six clean sheets in this season's Europa League.
Teams
Union: Ronnow – Doekhi, Knoche, Leite – Juranovic (Trimmel 90'+4), Haberer, Khedira (c), Laidouni (Thorsby 65'), Roussillon (Gießelmann 90'+4) – Becker (Leweling 85'), Behrens (Jordan 65')
Unused subs: Grill, Stein, Jaeckel, Michel, Maciejewski, Kemlein
Out: Baumgartl (unconfirmed), Schäfer (foot)
Coach: Urs Fischer
Ajax: Rulli - Rensch (Francisco Conceicao 84'), Timber, Alvarez, Bassey - Berghuis, Klasssen (Brobbey 64'), Taylor - Kudus, Tadic (c), Bergwijn (Lucca 80')
Unused subs: Stekelenburg, Pasveer, Wijndal, Sanchez, Grillitsch, Regeer, Fitz-Jim, Hato
Out: -
Coach: Johnny Heitinga
As it happened
3 - 1(2 - 0)
Union Berlin
FINAL
Ajax
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Union reach Europa League last 16!
They've done it! A supremely professional display by the Berlin club - they join Leverkusen and Freiburg in the hat for the last-16 draw.
90' +7
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Ajax down to 10 men!
Two bookings in the space of 60 seconds for Alvarez, who talks his way down the tunnel after an earlier foul on Thorsby. The clock was already against them - no way back now...
90' +7
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Edson Alvarez
90' +4
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Christopher Trimmel
Josip Juranovic
90' +5
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Changes on the flanks
The full-backs are absolutely integral to Fischer's system, and January signings Juranovic and Roussillon are no exception. They've run their socks off tonight.
90' +4
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Niko Gießelmann
Jérôme Roussillon
89'
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Time added on
Four additional minutes in Berlin. Union have already beaten Dortmund and Leipzig here this season, but this result would be right up there with the best of them!
85'
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Run, Becker, run!
Becker runs from halfway, only to meet his match in Rulli, who pushes the Surinamese forward's goal-bound effort behind for a corner. That's the Union top scorer's final act. He's been ever the willing runner against his boyhood club, and has more than earned a breather.
85'
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Jamie Leweling
Sheraldo Becker
84'
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Devyne Renchs
Francisco Conceicao
81'
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Chance!
Thorsby throws himself at a Roussillon cross, but sends his header wide of the mark. That would have been curtains for Ajax!
80'
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Lorenzo Lucca
Steven Bergwijn
70'
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Fresh legs
That like-for-like Union change has given Fischer's side added vim as Becker sends an effort wide. Ajax are bound to start leaving gaps before long, and we all know how efficient Union are on the counter.
65'
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Jordan
Kevin Behrens
65'
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Morten Thorsby
Aissa Laidouni
64'
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Attacking change
One ex-Bundesliga player for another, not that Ajax forward Brobbey will look back on his short goalless stint at Leipzig too fondly.
64'
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Bryan Brobbey
Davy Klaassen
62'
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Chance not taken!
The Union fans breathe a collective sigh of release as Kudu sidefoots wide after being played in by a combination of Klaassen and Tadic. The home side are not home and hosed yet!
123s
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Watch: Doekhi loves a header
The Union defender already has four headed goals in this season's Bundesliga, but that's his first in the Europa League. He's another Ajax academy graduate, too!
50'
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What a response!
Doekhi, so dangerous from set-pieces, heads in Juranovic's corner to restore Union's two-goal lead. Utter scenes in Berlin!
47'
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Ajax hit back.
Not the start Unon wanted as Bergwijn crosses for Kudus to arrow home a low finish at the back post. It's now 2-1 on aggregate!
0 - 0
Kick-off!
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Half time! Union 2-0 Ajax
Union have been on the back foot for much of the first 45, but have a 2-0 lead at the break. Ajax now need two goals without reply - and that's just to force extra time...
0 - 0
Half-time
44'
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Union extend their lead!
This is turning into a smash-and-grab job for Union. Juranovic's shot from outside the box looks like being a routine save for Rulli, who somehow lets it slip through his grasp. The Köpenick is bouncing!
42'
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Big save!
Ronnow to the rescue for Union, the Dane diving full stretch to stop Bergwijn from finding the bottom corner.
39'
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Warning signs
Ajax up the ante as Behrens blocks a shot at the expense of a corner. Alvarez gets his head to Tasic's ensuing delivery, but Ronnow is able to punch clear.
36'
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Becker threat
Ex-Ajax forward Becker uses his pace to stretch the visiting defence, but his cross is too close to the goalkeeper.
30'
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Even contest
Union have regained a measure of control. They're soaking up the pressure now, content with their early lead against the run of play.
25'
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Hemmed in
Ajax are still asking more of the questions, whilst preventing Union from attacking on the counter. Can the Berlin club get a grip on this game?
20'
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Union lead!
Rulli gets a hand to Knoche's penalty, but there's just too much power behind it. Union lead on the night and on aggregate!
17'
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Penalty!
There's a VAR check for a possible handball by Bassey in the box, and it's given! The Ajax defender clearly raised a hand to Doekhi's effort from a corner. Hugh moment for Union coming up...
14'
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Union second best
It's not often we've said that this season. They need to ride this early wave of Ajax pressure.
9'
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Three out of three?
Freiburg are already in the draw for the last 16, while Leverkusen are deep into extra time in their play-off second leg in Monaco.
4'
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Chance!
Huge let-off for Union as Kudus meets a corner, but can't turn his effort on target. Very un-Union defending!
1'
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What an atmosphere...
... what a night for Union Berlin. Can they get the job done?
0 - 0
Kick-off!
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Safe hands Freddy
Union goalkeeper Frederik Ronnow has kept five clean sheets in seven Europa League games this season, and has only had to make two saves!
209s
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Watch: Fan-tastic Union
The connection between the club and its fan runs deep at Union Berlin.
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More on those teams
Leite, Juranovic, Roussillon, Thorsby and Becker return to the Union XI following Sunday's 0-0 draw with Schalke. As for Ajax, ex-Werder Bremen midfielder Klaasen is preferred to Wijndal in the Dutch side's only change from the first leg stalemate.
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Union starting line-up
Ronnow – Doekhi, Knoche, Leite – Juranovic, Haberer, Khedira (c), Laidouni, Roussillon – Becker, Behrens
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Union subs
Grill, Stein, Thorsby, Jaeckel, Michel, Maciejewski, Gießelmann, Trimmel, Kemlein, Leweling, Jordan
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Ajax starting line-up
Rulli - Rensch, Timber, Alvarez, Bassey - Berghuis, Klaassen, Taylor - Kudus, Tadic (c), Bergwijn
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Ajax subs
Stekelenburg, Pasveer, Wijndal, Brobbey, Lucca, Sanchez, Grillitsch, Regeer, Fitz-Jim, Francisco Conceicao, Hato
First-leg report: Ajax 0-0 Union
While Ajax were playing their 150th game in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, Union were making their debut in the knockout stages of this competition. And it was the away side who looked at home in the Johan Cruijff Arena, taking control from the very start. Die Eisernen were positive and poured forward at every possible moment – cheered on by their vociferous support in Amsterdam – but clear-cut chances remained at a premium. Local boy Sheraldo Becker was a livewire in front of his friends and family, seeing a couple of efforts blocked. The closest Union came before the break was a sliced Jerome Roussillon effort at the far post. And although they failed to make their dominance count, Urs Fischer and his men went into the break having prevented the Dutch champions firing off a single attempt on goal.
The hosts made a bright start to the second half but it soon fizzled out as Union settled again. Josip Juranovic forced a good save out of Geronimo Rulli with a free-kick before the Croatian delivered a pin-point cross onto the head of Morten Thorsby, but he could only plant his header straight at the goalkeeper. The Norwegian soon had the ball in the net as he chested down a Roussillon cross before burying, but a lengthy VAR review decided the ball had touched his arm on the way down and ruled it out. It remained goalless in the Netherlands, leaving the tie finely poised before the teams meet again for the second leg at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei next Thursday.