Union Saint-Gilloise v Union Berlin Live Commentary & Result, 16/03/2023, UEFA Europa League

That's all from Brussels today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

While USG now await their fate in the draw before hosting Mechelen at the weekend, Union Berlin must lick their wounds and go again on Sunday, when they meet an Eintracht Frankfurt side also ejected from Europe this week.

A fully merited win on the day takes Union Saint-Gilloise through to the Europa League quarter-finals as 6-3 victors on aggregate, as they left a tepid Union Berlin side trailing in their wake. Boniface and Amani caused chaos in the visitors' defence, while the Bundesliga side were reduced to hopeful balls into the box and rarely threatened to score. It is the Belgian club who will take a place in tomorrow's last-eight draw, and they ultimately did so in comprehensive style.

90' + 5' FULL-TIME: UNION SAINT-GILLOISE 3-0 UNION BERLIN

L. Amani

Assist

90' + 4' Amani adds an assist to his earlier goal, as he plays in Lapoussin for USG's third goal with a pass from the right side of the box.

L. Lapoussin

Goal

90' + 4' USG GET THEIR THIRD! From close range, Lapoussin drives the ball high over the head of an exposed Ronnow to seal the hosts' place in the quarter-finals in style! Amani was involved again, with a low cross from the right setting up the goal. It's 3-0 to USG on the day and 6-3 overall!

R. Khedira

Yellow Card

90' + 4' Out of sheer frustration, Khedira hauls back Amani by the arms, as the USG man runs past him for the umpteenth time today. That's a booking for the Union Berlin captain.

C. Terho

V. Boniface

90' + 2' Cheered off the pitch, today's most prominent player Boniface is substituted late on. Terho is offered a brief cameo in his place.

90' NO GOAL! The referee indicates that USG's third goal will be chalked off - Amani's second of the game will not stand due to a marginal offside.

89' USG GOAL? Capping off a fine performance, Amani converts with his knee at the near post, after the hosts break quickly down the right! However, his celebrations are quelled by a delay for the VAR to examine the build-up for an offside.

87' OFF THE LINE! Of all people, Becker is back to hack the ball away from his own goal-line, after Boniface lobs Ronnow, who has gone wandering far out of his area! A close call, but USG are denied their third goal!

O. El Azzouzi

T. Teuma

85' Teuma is given a warm round of applause as he departs the scene; El Azzouzi will be his replacement.

B. Nieuwkoop

Yellow Card

85' Stretching for the ball, Nieuwkoop goes over the top and plants his studs on Giesselmann's boot, before receiving a yellow card shortly afterwards.

82' Lynen was hurt by Haberer's follow-through and is receiving medical attention, as the clock ticks down towards an historic USG victory.

80' Having followed through slightly in a challenge with Lynen in midfield, Haberer is rather harshly shown a second yellow card. He's sent off, having only come on as a substitute earlier in the second half!

79' SMART STOP! Diving low to his right, Ronnow does well to make a double save when Teuma's flicked throughball picks out Nilsson in the area, and that just about keeps his team in the tie!

78' JUST OVER! Totally evading his marker to leap and meet a cross from the left wing, Diogo Leite can only place his 10-yard header over the crossbar by a couple of feet! Union Berlin simply don't look like scoring today!

76' Teuma's cross from a free-kick is flicked well wide of the right-hand post by the head of Kandouss, who rises highest in the penalty area.

C. Trimmel

J. Roussillon

74' Trimmel will replace Roussillon on the right flank.

N. Gießelmann

J. Juranović

74' Union Berlin now withdraw both wing-backs. First, Juranovic makes way for Giesselmann.

72' Full of confidence now, Boniface takes a crack at goal from around 30 yards out, and though his attempt packs plenty of power it is also directed straight at Ronnow, who completes a simple save.

70' Again, Boniface leaves two defenders standing with some quick-thinking fleet-footed work down the left, before his cross towards the six-yard box is just cut out.

G. Nilsson

S. Adingra

67' A sprightly shift for Adingra comes an early end, as the winger is withrawn for Nilsson.

J. Leweling

M. Thorsby

67' Fischer opts for another change following USG's second goal: Leweling replaces Thorsby.

65' JUST WIDE! Becker steps up to a free-kick from 20 yards out, and his curling effort only just zips by the right-hand post! It never looked like going in really, but Union Berlin have hardly come any closer.

L. Amani

Goal

63' USG GO TWO CLEAR! So influential today, Boniface puts two defenders on the back foot with some swift footwork down the left flank, and when his clipped ball to Amani then meets its target, the latter slams it home with a precise strike! Ronnow was well beaten, and Union Saint-Gilloise now lead 5-3 on aggregate!

62' The delay is brought to an end as USG captain Teuma is passed fit to continue. His side have just half an hour left to hold out now.

J. Haberer

Yellow Card

60' Soon after joining the game from the bench, Haberer is booked for a foul on Teuma in midfield.

59' Teuma is down on the turf seeking attention from the medics, having been toppled by Haberer in midfield. The game therefore comes to a halt.

J. Siebatcheu

S. Michel

56' Siebatcheu will provide fresh legs and a different approach up front, as Fischer sends the American on for Michel.

J. Haberer

A. Laïdouni

56' On a booking, Laidouni is removed from the Union Berlin midfield, as Haberer comes on to replace him.

55' With no pace on the ball to work with, following a looping cross from the left, Nieuwkoop places a tame header from the centre of the box straight at Ronnow.

54' Boniface again causes panic in the Union Berlin defence, and he finds himself brought down by Doekhi when attempting to lead a counter-atttack through the centre of the pitch.

52' Becker has a rare chance to run at the home defence from midway inside the attacking half, but is then shepherded wide and his ball across the box to Michel is cut out.

50' With USG launching a rapid raid down the left through Lapoussin, a minor brush-off on Juranovic sees the latter drop to the turf and cleverly buy his team a free-kick. However, they almost immediately give possession away.

A. Laïdouni

Yellow Card

48' For a clumsy foul on Teuma in midfield, Laidouni becomes the second Union Berlin player to see yellow today.

46' Union Berlin kick off, and we are back under way in Brussels!

Die Eisernen have already demonstrated iron will by fighting back from behind three times in this last-16 tie, so will surely believe they can do so again in the second half. Or can USG hold onto their advantage this time?

Rewarded for their better use of the ball and some co-ordinated pressing, Union Saint-Gilloise lead both today's game and the tie by a goal with 45 minutes left to play. Teuma's clinical strike separates the sides at the break, and USG's ability to counter at pace has caught out Union Berlin on more than one occasion. The Bundesliga side are lacking composure in the final third, and but for Boniface striking the post when he really should have scored, they could have been trailing by two at the interval.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: UNION SAINT-GILLOISE 1-0 UNION BERLIN

45' The fourth official indicates there will be just one minute of stoppage time played at the end of the first half.

43' Becker thinks he has sprung the USG offside trap, rapidly breaking down the right and then sending the ball across the face of goal, but the assistant's flag belatedly goes up to indicate his run was mistimed.

42' From the left, Juranovic swings over a corner to the far side of the area, but Thorsby is then caught offside just outside the six-yard box.

40' Both Boniface and Adingra are felled in the space of a minute, as Union Berlin target the opposition's danger men. However, neither free-kick ultimately comes to anything.

38' All ten outfield players are back inside their own half for the hosts, as Union Berlin attempt to work an opening. USG are happy to hit on the break, through Boniface and Adingra.

36' Fischer must surely be aghast at his team's lack of precision in the final third, as they continue to fling in hopeful balls from all angles. USG have been dealing with such tactics quite comfortably so far.

34' Lifted by their goal and preferring to keep the ball on the ground, Union Saint-Gilloise have enjoyed 73 per cent of the possession over the last 15 minutes.

32' After a sustained spell of possession featuring some sharp passing patterns, Union Berlin lose the ball on the edge of their hosts' box. Then, Adingra picks up the ball on the break and tries his luck with a hit-and-hope from over 30 yards. Ronnow looks concerned, but the ball sails over his crossbar.

30' Again, the ball is spending a fair share of time in the air, as both sides battle it out in midfield.

29' Following USG's opener today, Adingra has now assisted three Europa League goals this season, while Teuma has scored his third.

Diogo Leite

Yellow Card

27' Having struggled to cope with Boniface so far today, Diogo Leite is unsurpisingly booked for clipping the USG striker deep inside his own half.

24' Roussillion bundles over Amani midway through Union Berlin's half, but USG waste the subsequent free-kick, which is tossed carelessly into the box.

22' Cheered on by their buoyant fans from the stands, Union Saint-Gilloise are now taking the initiative and seem intent on doubling their lead.

20' CLOSE! With an effort from the left side of the area, over 20 yards out from goal, Juranovic sends a free-kick scudding only a few feet wide of the target!

S. Adingra

Assist

18' Well-placed to capitalise on some slack defending from the visitors, Adingra seizes the ball and tees up Teuma to score.

T. Teuma

Goal

18' USG LEAD! More closing down from Adingra creates another error in the Union Berlin defence, and the ball breaks to Teuma on the edge of the box. USG's captain needs no more invitation and rockets a hard, low shot into the bottom-right corner of the net! It's 1-0 today and 4-3 to the Belgian side on aggregate!

17' After taking an arm in the face from Michel during an aerial challenge, Burgess hits the deck and is in need of some medical attention. The action comes to a temporary halt.

16' Despite out-jumping his marker, Boniface just fails to get a head on a dangerous cross swung across the Union Berlin box and the ball travels behind for a goal-kick.

14' A scrappy phase of play follows that earlier flurry of goalmouth action, and it is clear these teams are well accustomed to each other by now - this is their fourth meeting of the season.

12' Doekhi has to scramble back into position with USG skipper Teuma haring towards the ball down the left flank, and the Union Berlin defender duly completes his clearance.

10' At the moment, Union Berlin are establishing the greater foothold in the game, but their decision to go direct with angled long balls has not paid dividends yet. More accuracy is required.

8' CLOSE! After Michel drives a 20-yard free-kick into the wall, first to react is Juranovic, who unleashes a thunderous strike through a sea of bodies and sends the ball zipping just wide of the post! This second leg is continuing where the six-goal first leg left off!

6' OFF THE POST! Leite dawdles on the ball, gifting it to Boniface midway through Union Berlin's half, then Adingra's shot strikes a defender near the goal-line before Boniface plants the follow-up against the right-hand post! What an escape for the visitors!

5' Adingra is aggreived to see a throw-in awarded to Knoche deep inside the Union Berlin half, and USG's attacking move comes to an end.

3' As the ball breaks to Michel following an aerial challenge on the edge of USG's box, the striker crashes a snap-shot into the turf and it bounces safely into the gloves of Moris.

1' Union Saint-Gilloise kick off, and we are under way in Belgium!

The players are out on the pitch under the bright lights of Brussels, and kick-off is now just moments away!

Having scored twice against USG already this season, Michel is promoted to Union Berlin's starting lineup today, in the absence of Kevin Behrens. While Roussillon comes in on the visitors' left flank, Juranovic - who scored his side's opening goal last Thursday - plays on the right. Top scorer Becker leads the line up front but is still seeking his first club goal since November.

Union Saint-Gilloise captain Teuma returns to the team today, following his recovery from injury, but Belgium Under-21 striker Yorbe Vertessen is now sidelined by a thigh problem. The latter is replaced by Adingra, who was involved in both goals against Genk on Sunday and will support the Europa League's joint-top scorer Boniface up front. Meanwhile, Lapoussin and El Azzouzi drop down to the bench.

SUBS: Yannic Stein, Lennart Grill, Niko Giesselmann, Janik Haberer, Paul Jaeckel, Aljoscha Kemlein, Jordan Siebatcheu, Tim Maciejewski, Jamie Leweling, Christopher Trimmel.

UNION BERLIN (3-5-2): Frederik Ronnow; Danilho Doekhi, Robin Knoche, Diogo Leite; Josip Juranovic, Aissa Laidouni, Rani Khedira, Morten Thorsby, Jerome Roussillon; Sven Michel, Sheraldo Becker.

SUBS: Lucas Pirard, Joachim Imbrechts, Casper Terho, Nathan Huygevelde, Oussama El Azzouzi, Ross Sykes, Koki Machida, Cameron Puertas, Gustaf Nilsson, Dennis Eckert.

UNION SAINT-GILLOISE (4-3-3): Anthony Moris; Bart Nieuwkoop, Christian Burgess, Ismal Kandouss, Siebe Van der Heyden; Loic Lapoussin, Teddy Teuma, Senne Lynen; Victor Boniface, Lazare Amani, Simon Adingra.

Having already met USG twice earlier in this season's competition - they were paired together in Group D - Union Berlin had to come from behind three times last week to keep this tie level. Urs Fischer's men won 1-0 when they last ventured to Brussels in November, with Sven Michel scoring the only goal. Die Eisernen have never previously progressed from successive European knockout rounds, but having kept a clean sheet in each of their last three Europa League away games, the Bundesliga's fourth-placed side may fancy their chances of going through today.

Following last week's eventful 3-3 draw in Germany, Union Saint-Gilloise are now aiming to reach a European quarter-final for just the second time in club history. USG have not progressed past the last 16 of a UEFA tournament since making the 1958-60 Fairs Cup semi-finals, but a Victor Boniface brace in the first leg leaves them just 90 minutes from potentially doing so. Karel Geraerts may have seen his side squander the lead three times at An der Alten Forsterei, but they sit second in Belgium's Pro League after beating leaders Genk 2-1 last weekend.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Europa League last-16 second-leg clash between Union Saint-Gilloise and Union Berlin!

Union Saint-Gilloise v Union Berlin Live Commentary, 16/03/2023

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