Livan Burcu's late stunner rescues a point for Union Berlin in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Cologne
Union Berlin and Cologne couldn't be separated on Matchday 32, with the hosts battling back from two goals down to rescue a vital point in their quest for outright Bundesliga safety.
Union Berlin 2–2 Cologne
Goals: 0-1 Bülter 33’ (assist: Waldschmidt), 0-2 El Mala 61‘ (assist: Lund), 1-2 Rothe 73‘ (assist: Trimmel), 2-2 Burcu 89’
Union came into this Matchday 32 fixture on the back of consecutive losses to Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig. The hosts had gone five matches without a win, picking up just one point in that run, though they still held a six-point cushion above the relegation zone.
Cologne, meanwhile, arrived at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei on an 11-game away winless streak. Carl Klaus made his Bundesliga starting debut in goal for Union, replacing the injured Frederik Rønnow, while Luca Waldschmidt returned to the Billy Goats' starting line-up after scoring as a substitute in each of the previous two matchdays.
Bülter breaks the deadlock
The opening exchanges were cagey, with neither side creating clear-cut chances. Union had the better of the early opportunities, with Aljoscha Kemlein firing over from the edge of the box in the fourth minute after a cross from Oliver Burke. In the 23rd minute, Kemlein struck the outside of the post after Marvin Schwäbe had inadvertently played the ball into Burke's path, while Tom Rothe headed over from an András Schäfer cross in the 27th minute.
Against the run of play, Marius Bülter broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, receiving a lay-off from Luca Waldschmidt on the edge of the box and firing a stunning strike into the top corner from range. The VAR checked for a potential offside by Saïd El Mala in the build-up, but the goal stood, and Diogo Leite was then booked for protesting. Klaus kept the deficit to one goal just before the break, making a fine save to deny Jakub Kamiński, with Leite then clearing the follow-up chance.
El Mala doubles Cologne's advantage
Union made three changes at the break, introducing Livan Burcu, Andrej Ilić and Christopher Trimmel as they sought a way back into the match. Cologne, however, doubled their lead in the 61st minute when El Mala swept home a low cross from Kristoffer Lund from close range to make it 2-0.
Tim Skarke came on for Stanley Nsoki in the 67th minute as Eta pushed for a response, with Waldschmidt having already been replaced by Felipe Chávez at the 62nd minute.
Rothe and Burcu complete a stunning comeback
The visitors made a triple substitution of their own in the 72nd minute, bringing on Youssoupha Niang, Jan Thielmann and Linton Maina in place of El Mala, Kamiński and Bülter. Almost immediately, Union pulled one back: Trimmel's corner from the right was met by Rothe, who headed the ball down into the far corner from close range, with the ball bouncing over the line to make it 1-2 in the 73rd minute.
Union continued to press, and with just one minute of normal time remaining, substitute Burcu produced a moment of brilliance, cutting in from the left and firing a superb long-range strike into the top corner to level at 2-2. Schwäbe, who had been booked moments earlier for dissent, could not keep it out. Nine minutes of added time followed, but neither side could find a winner, with Sebastian Sebulonsen firing wide for Cologne and Oliver Burke's effort being blocked for Union.
Man of the Match: Saïd El Mala
El Mala was voted Man of the Match with 58 per cent of the vote. The midfielder was a constant threat throughout, scoring the second goal in the 61st minute and contributing to the build-up play that led to Bülter's opener. He had been involved in five goals in his previous seven matches coming into this fixture, with four goals and one assist.
El Mala was also the most pressed Cologne player during the match, facing pressure 12 times, yet he consistently found ways to create danger before being substituted off in the 71st minute.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Union Berlin 0.78 - Cologne 0.86
Fastest player: Jakub Kamiński (Cologne), 34.27 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-2 by Livan Burcu (FCU), 2 percent
Most pressed player: Tom Rothe (FCU), 16 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Luca Waldschmidt (Cologne), +1.47
Fantasy Heroes: Tom Rothe (Union Berlin, 385 Points), Saïd El Mala (Cologne, 229 Points), Danilho Doekhi (Union Berlin, 197 Points)
