Union Berlin v Union Saint-Gilloise Live Commentary & Result, 09/03/2023, UEFA Europa League

That is all for tonight folks, thanks for joining us. Goodbye!

For large parts of the match, Union SG appeared to be on the ropes and struggling, but they used that to lure the home side in before punishing them on the counter-attack. If they can show that clinical edge next week, they will have a great chance of reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League, especially when they are playing at home. The same can be said for Union Berlin; if they show the same heart, they will find themselves in an excellent position to progress. Next week's second leg promises to be a thrilling encounter.

An incredible match comes to an end, and both sides will feel they can still progress in next week's second leg. Union SG will be frustrated after taking the lead on three occasions, but their counter-attacking tactics worked a treat on their travels. Boniface's deflected opener was cancelled out by Juranovic's curling free-kick, and the two sides went in level at 1-1 at the break. Vertessen and Boniface thought they had won it for Union SG, only for Knoche and Michel to pull the home side back level in an sensational game.

90' + 6' FULL-TIME: UNION BERLIN 3-3 UNION SG.

90' + 3' CHANCE! Leweling wastes a chance to score after working a one-two, with his tame shot fired straight into the hands of Union SG keeper Moris.

90' + 1' Six minutes of stoppage time to come...

90' Michel hurt himself as he celebrated, running into a Union SG player. Thankfully, he is back on his feet and can continue.

S. Michel

Goal

89' GOAAAALL!!!! UNION BERLIN 3-3 UNION SG! WE ARE LEVEL!!! The home side come back from behind for the third time tonight as Michel smashes the ball into the bottom corner. The Union Berlin subbed latched onto the ball in the penalty area, and he wasted no time before scoring. What a game this has been!!

88' Union SG are playing to waste time it seems, and as they continue to take the ball towards the corner flags, they are being booed by the home fans.

G. Nilsson

V. Boniface

86' After his two goals, Boniface is now on the bench and Nilsson will get a few minutes to make a difference.

Cameron Puertas

L. Amani

86' Amani is now walking around the pitch after being subbed, with Puertas on for the final few minutes.

N. Gießelmann

Yellow Card

85' Giebelmann gets into a disagreement with Amani, and is shown a yellow card by the referee.

82' CLOSE! Burgess nearly concedes a second penalty, but replays showed he tucked his arm into his chest before a cross from the left wing skimmed off the floor and into him. Thankfully for Union SG, Moris was on hand to dive on the ball before Union Berlin striker Leweling.

S. Adingra

Y. Vertessen

80' Union SG's first substitution of the night sees Adingra replace Vertessen.

S. Michel

S. Becker

77' Becker makes way for Michel as Fischer tries to find a way to get his team back level.

J. Leweling

M. Thorsby

77' Thorsby's night is also over, with Leweling on for the final 13 minutes.

N. Gießelmann

C. Trimmel

77' More changes for Union Berlin as Trimmel is replaced by Giebelmann.

76' While Knoche now has four goals in the Europa League this season, Boniface has taken his tally to five. Both players will be crucial for their respective sides during the final 15 minutes and during next week's second leg.

R. Knoche

Yellow Card

75' Knoche is now in the referee's book after stopping a Union SG counter-attack.

B. Nieuwkoop

Assist

72' Nieuwkoop will take plenty of plaudits for that assist, showing tremendous bravery at first to win a tackle before then crossing for Boniface.

V. Boniface

Goal

72' GOAAAALLL UNION BERLIN 2-3 UNION SG!!! They have done it again. The visitors have scored against the run of play, and this is turning into an incredible contest in Berlin. Nieuwkoop was at the heart of the attack as he raced down the right flank before cutting the ball to Boniface. The Union SG striker stayed composed, firing the ball straight back across the goal past a helpless Ronnow.

R. Knoche

Penalty Miss

69' Knoche's first attempt was poorly hit, and he curled the ball too close to the middle of the goal, but he made amends in the end.

A. Moris

Penalty Save

69' Moris did well to save the first shot, but he could only palm the ball straight back to Knoche.

R. Knoche

Goal

69' GOAAALLLLLL!!! UNION BERLIN 2-2 UNION SG! Knoche scores at the second attempt, with Moris palming his first effort straight back to him. Thankfully for the home side, Knoche stayed composed and tapped the rebound into the back of the net.

C. Burgess

Yellow Card

68' Burgess is shown a yellow card for a handball in the box, which stopped Union Berlin from scoring. There was no intent there, but he is still shown a card as Union Berlin prepares to draw level.

67' PENALTY UNION BERLIN!!!

65' CHANCE! Siebatcheu's first involvement is to miss a huge chance from the edge of the six-yard box as he volleyed his shot past the post.

J. Siebatcheu

K. Behrens

64' The second sees Behrens make way for Siebatcheu.

A. Laïdouni

J. Haberer

63' Laidouni replaces Haberer in the first change for Union Berlin.

62' It looks like Fischer is about to turn to his bench after that goal. Union SG have scored both of their goals against the run of play, and they will be a tough nut to crack now until full-time.

60' Vertessen has now scored his third goal in the UEFA Europa League this season.

L. Lapoussin

Assist

58' Lapoussin has had a quiet night, but that pass was perfect and it allowed Vertessen to hit his shot first time.

Y. Vertessen

Goal

58' GOAAAALLL UNION BERLIN 1-2 UNION SG!!! The visitors punished the home side on the counter-attack, and the Belgian outfit showed so much composure to retake the lead. Lapoussin picked out Vertessen with a well-weighted throughball, and he had the composure to slot past Ronnow.

55' Union Berlin have attempted the last five shots in this game, with Union SG's last previous effort occurring in the 28th minute when Boniface opened the scoring.

S. Lynen

Yellow Card

53' Lynen is the second player booked after a poor challenge on Thorsby as Union Berlin tried to counter-attack.

50' BLOCK! Burgess comes to Union SG's rescue as he blocks Thorsby's volley from just outside the six-yard box. Thorsby's effort was very likely to find the back of the net, so it was no surprise to see most of the visitors' defence pat Burgess on the back.

48' In a short weather update, it is still snowing. Thankfully, neither team has shown any signs of struggling with the weather.

46' We are back underway in Berlin, with neither manager turning to their bench at the break.

After their first-half display, Union SG will certainly be pleased with the scoreline, but they need to do more if they are going to escape with a share of the spoils. With some fine-tuning, Union Berlin should be able to push on and get the victory, and their fans will certainly be doing all they can to help them on their way.

Union Berlin deservedly levelled just before the break, and the highlight of the match so far was Juranovic's free-kick. Boniface's opener came against the run of play for Union SG, but he had a big deflection to thank for his opening goal. Before Juranovic's leveller, Behrens had come close to levelling the score, but his header was saved by Moris.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: UNION BERLIN 1-1 UNION SG.

45' Two minutes of stoppage time to come...

44' Union SG have conceded six first-half goals in seven games, only Zurich (10) have conceded more in the UEFA Europa League this season.

J. Juranović

Goal

42' GOAAAALLL UNION BERLIN 1-1 UNION SG!!!! An incredible free-kick from Juranovic puts the home side level just before half-time. Union Berlin had hoped they had won a penalty after a foul on Haberer in the box, but the referee pulled the play back for an earlier tackle on the edge of the box. The home fans were not unhappy for long, with Juranovic curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner. WHAT A STRIKE!

39' We are now into the final six minutes in Berlin, and the home side need to push for an equaliser. They have been the better team, and if they could reward their fans for their tremendous support, that would be a solid end to the first half.

37' Even though their side are trailing, Union Berlin's fans have continued to throw their support behind their side as we approach half-time.

35' GOAL DISALLOWED! Union Berlin's celebrations are cut short as the flag goes up to deny Behrens, who volleyed Thorsby's shot into the net.

32' Union Berlin have an injury to worry about now, with Khedira down and receiving treatment after a heavy challenge near the Union SG box.

30' Boniface has scored his fourth goal this season; no player has more in the UEFA Europa League.

V. Boniface

Goal

28' GOAAALLLL!!!! Union Berlin 0-1 UNION SG. From nowhere, Union SG are in the lead, and Boniface will claim it, although his shot from outside of the box took a huge deflection. The Union SG striker collected possession on the edge of the box and was given time to turn. That was a poor decision from Union Berlin, who could only watch helplessly as Boniface's shot curled into the far corner past Ronnow.

Y. Vertessen

Assist

28' Vertessen claims the assist, but it was Boniface that did all the hard work after collecting a simple pass on the edge of the area.

27' The snow is really starting to fall in Berlin, but thankfully, it has made no difference to the playing conditions, and the ball is still moving freely.

25' Union SG are slowly starting to work their way back into the game, winning a few more set-pieces in the Union Berlin half.

22' Union Berlin enjoyed 76.8% possession over the opening 15 minutes of this game. Boss Urs Fischer will be pleased, but they could have created more chances with that.

Y. Vertessen

Yellow Card

20' Vertessen goes into the referee's book, and he can have no complaints after bodychecking Thorsby in the middle of midfield.

18' Union Berlin has certainly had the better chances inside the first 20 minutes, but Union SG have not panicked yet, and they will now hope to grow into the game as we approach half-time.

16' CHANCE! Union Berlin's best opportunity comes from the corner, as Behrens meets the cross on the penalty spot. Even though his header was goalbound, Union SG keeper Moris did enough to claw the effort away from the goal before diving onto the ball. That was a close call for the visitors.

15' Juranovic wins Union Berlin a corner after his teasing cross was cleared at the last second, just before Thorsby could head home.

13' It is still early days, but Union SG are struggling to string passes together and, as a result, have been unable to build any meaningful attacks.

10' Nothing comes from the resulting set-piece, but that will give the home side a lift.

9' SAVE! Moris is called into action in the Union SG goal, but he does well to tip Becker's half-volley over the crossbar for a corner.

8' Neither goalkeeper has had anything to do, but it is Union Berlin that are setting the tempo and forcing Union SG back into their own half.

6' The players are having to deal with a change in conditions, as it has started snowing in Berlin. The home side should be used to it, but it may make conditions tricky for both goalkeepers.

3' The home fans are in fine voice inside the opening exchanges, but neither set of supporters has had anything to get excited about.

1' We are underway in Berlin!

The two teams are on the field and kick-off is moments away!

This is the third meeting between Union Berlin and Union Saint-Gilloise in European competition, with both previous matches coming in the group stage of this season’s UEFA Europa League - both encounters ended in 1-0 victories for the away side.

Union Berlin forward Andras Schafer remains on the sidelines, while Niko Giesselmann and Jerome Roussillon failed fitness tests after picking up knocks against FC Koln at the weekend. Union SG forward Eckert Ayensa settles for a place on the bench as he recovers from a muscle problem.

SUBS: Joachim Imbrechts, Lucas Pirard, Dennis-Yerai Eckert Ayensa, Teddy Teuma, Simon Adingra, Casper Terho, Cameron Puertas, Ross Sykes, Koki Machida, Gustaf Nilsson, Nathan Huygevelde.

SUBS: Lennart Grill, Yannic Stein, Paul Jaeckel, Sven Michel, Tim Maciejewski, Aissa Laidouni, Niko Giebelmann, Aljoscha Kemlein, Jamie Leweling, Jordan Siebatcheu.

UNION SAINT-GILLOISE (3-5-2): Anthony Moris (C); Siebe Van der Heyden, Christian Burgess, Ismael Kandouss; Loic Lapoussin, Oussama El Azzouzi, Senne Lynen, Lazare Amani, Bart Nieuwkoop; Victor Boniface, Yorbe Vertessen.

UNION BERLIN (3-5-2): Frederik Ronnow; Diogo Leite, Robin Knoche, Danilho Doekhi; Josip Juranovic, Janik Haberer, Rani Khedira, Morten Thorsby, Christopher Trimmel (C); Kevin Behrens, Sheraldo Becker.

Belgian outfit Union SG have only won one of their previous five, beating Eupen 2-1 last time out. Despite that run, they remain second in their division, and they know they can get the better of their opponents on home soil, having beaten them 1-0 in September.

Tonight's tie will be unchartered waters for both clubs, who have already made it further than ever in European competition. Union Berlin finished second to Union SG in Group D, but only one point separated the two sides after six matches. Union Berlin's title run in the Bundesliga appears to have come to an end after one win in five, but they have only lost once during that time as well. Bayern Munich got the better of them at the end of February, but they will still fancy their chances this evening.

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the Europa League clash between Union Berlin and Union Saint-Gilloise. These two sides faced each other in the group stages of the competition, but they now meet for the third time in the last-16.

Union Berlin v Union Saint-Gilloise Live Commentary, 09/03/2023

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