Voglsammer ends St. Pauli DFB Cup dream as Union reach last four

Union Berlin 2-1 St Pauli

Goals: 0-1 (Kyereh 21'), 1-1 (Becker 45'), 2-1 (Voglsammer 75')

Both sides had high hopes of going deeper in the competition following the previous round, when Union won a derby against fellow top-flight outfit Hertha Berlin and Pauli dumped out holders Borussia Dortmund. Union started as favourites in a meeting of two cult clubs, though, given their elevated status and the benefit of having home advantage at their iconic Stadion an der Alten Försterei ground. Grischa Prömel headed wide for the home side and Marcel Beifus got a shot on target from distance for the visitors in the early exchanges, but it was Union who looked more likely to score after forcing a series of set-pieces. Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi was a lively presence up front, but it was one of Pauli's best players this season who would strike first. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh won a free-kick on the edge of the area and took it himself, with the Ghanaian's firm hit around the wall bouncing just before passing Frederik Ronnow in the Union goal. Niko Gießelmann and Sheraldo Becker then had chances as Union responded well but it looked like Pauli would get to half-time with their lead intact. That was until Awoniyi chased a long ball forward and visiting goalkeeper Dennis Smarsch raced out to meet him. The ball broke off the keeper to Becker, who adjusted his body smartly to hook into the net with virtually the last kick of the half.

Pauli has already lost Max Dittgen to injury in the first half and they made another change at the break when Finn Becker was introduced. Jakov Medic made a good block from Timo Baumgartl as Union sought a winner, and they looked the more dominant side in a scrappy second half. By the 70-minute mark they had had 13 shots and six corners, but Pauli looked relatively comfortable. Medic failed to clear a Paul Jaeckel punt forward, however, and he slipped as well to allow Voglsammer to pick his spot only 10 minutes after coming on. The summer signing came close to a third when he hit the post in additional time, but Pauli would have one last chance of their own. Substitute Simon Makienok was inches away from forcing extra-time when he sent a rasping shot just wide via a deflection, but Union held on to move to within 90 minutes of only their second ever final.

• Voglsammer scored the opening goal in Union's win over Hertha in the last 16.
• Union had reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for just the third time. They were eliminated at this stage by Bayer Leverkusen in 2019/20, but reached the final in 2000/01 as a third-tier club, losing to Schalke but still qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
• The Berliners had lost their previous seven DFB Cup games at home by an aggregate score of 26-5. Their last victory in the competition at the Alte Försterei came over Duisburg in August 2001 (1-0) - the season of their only previous European campaign before this.
• Guido Burgstaller was Pauli's top scorer in the DFB Cup this season with two goals. He also leads the scoring chart in Bundesliga 2 with 17.
• This was Die Kiezkicker’s fifth appearance in the DFB Cup quarter-finals, and first since 2005/06. That was also the only time they’ve gone further, ultimately losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the semis.
• Pauli won the only previous DFB Cup meeting with Union (3-2 in 1994/95) and the most recent encounter by the same score in the 2018/19 Bundesliga 2 campaign. But they trail the overall head-to-head with eight wins to 12 (plus six draws).

Line-ups

Union: Rönnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Baumgartl - Trimmel  (Ryerson 88'), Haraguchi (Möhwald 77'), Khedira, Prömel (c), Gießelmann - Becker (Michel 87'), Awoniyi (Voglsammer 65')
Unused subs: Luthe, Heintz, Oczipka, Öztunali, Ujah,
Out: Endo (leg), Schäfer (knee)
Coach: Urs Fischer 

Pauli: Smarsch - Zander (Makienok 82'), Beifus (Matanovic 82'), Medic, Paqarada (c) - Aremu (Becker HT', Irvine, Hartel - Kyereh - Burgstaller, Dittgen (Ritzka 39')
Subs: Vasilj, Dzwigala, Buchtmann, Daschner, Jessen
Out: Amenyido (calf), Avevor (ankle), Lawrence (knock), Ohlsson (knee), Smith (knee), Wieckhoff (knee), Ziereis (back)
Coach: Timo Schultz

As it happened