Bundesliga
Havard Nielsen’s goal was the difference as Greuther Fürth got their first win of the season – and first ever at home in two Bundesliga campaigns – by beating Union Berlin 1-0 at the Sportpark Ronhof.
Greuther Fürth 1-0 Union Berlin
Goal: 1-0 Nielsen 56’
Despite their historic drought, Fürth started the more confident side and had a golden chance to strike inside the opening 10 minutes. Dickson Abiama got on the end of Branimir Hrgota’s effort but Andreas Luthe showed good reactions to block with his feet from close range. Union’s best chance fell to talisman Max Kruse after a long ball following a turnover in midfield, but the former Germany international was denied by Sascha Burchert, who was back in the Greuther goal after injury to Marius Funk. The Fürth goalkeeper was again called into action at another long ball, getting his timing just right to get a hand to it before leaving his area, and ahead of the on-rushing Kevin Behrens. Six attempts on goal was the second fewest of any first half in the Bundesliga this season, but Fürth will no doubt have been delighted with the score given the fact they had conceded 17 goals across their previous three games.
Genki Haraguchi flashed an effort wide at one end for Union, but the game opened up shortly before the hour mark when the Berliners failed to clear their lines at a corner and Nielsen reacted quickest to bundle the ball in – via a deflection – and put Fürth ahead. The visitors almost had an immediate response but Burchert pulled out a diving save for the cameras to deny Behrens’ close-range header. Union boss Urs Fischer sent on the big guns in top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi in an attempt to turn things around, and the Nigerian came closest with a header over, but the Berliners failed to muster up much meaningful as Fürth held on for that much needed first win of the season and maiden top-flight victory at home. However, the Bavarians remain six points adrift at the bottom with two games to go until the halfway point of the campaign.
Watch: Nielsen: "I'm really proud"
Fürth: Burchert – Meyerhöfer, Griesbeck, Bauer, Willems – Christiansen, Seguin, Tillman (Seufert 86') – Nielsen (Dudziak 86') – Abiama (Leweling 61’), Hrgota (c) (Itten 74’)
Unused subs: Schaffran, Asta, Itter, Serpei, Green
Out: Funk (knee), Hoogma (knee), Jung (match fitness), Kehr (knee), Ngankam (knee), Viergever (ankle)
Coach: Stefan Leitl
Union: Luthe – Jaeckel, Knoche, Baumgartl (Voglsammer 74’) – Ryerson, Haraguchi (Teuchert 82’), Prömel, Gießelmann – Kruse (Awoniyi 63’) – Becker, Behrens (Endo 82’)
Unused subs: Rönnow, Van Drongelen, Oczipka, Trimmel, Khedira
Out: Dehl (operation), Friedrich (ill)
Coach: Urs Fischer