Union Berlin were beaten 3-0 in Belgium to go down 6-3 on aggregate against Union Saint-Gilloise in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Union Saint-Gilloise 3-0 Union Berlin (agg: 6-3)
Goals: 1-0 Teuma (18’), 2-0 Amani (63’), 3-0 Lapoussin (90'+4)
Red card: Haberer (80’)
Union came to Belgium for the second time this season, having previously beaten St. Gilloise 1-0 here in the group stage. The hosts fired off a warning shot that they would be a threat on the counter when Victor Boniface, who bagged a brace in the 3-3 first-leg draw in Berlin, struck the post. Josip Juranovic had scored the first of Die Eisernen’s three equalisers a week ago at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei and soon fizzed the rebound from a blocked free-kick just wide. However, the Bundesliga club were soon behind when Robin Knoche lost possession on the edge of his own box and St. Gilloise captain Teddy Teuma was able to fire home. Juranovic then came close yet again with a free-kick that curled just wide of the far post as Union demonstrated their threat from set pieces.
The issue for the Berliners, however, was that they didn’t have enough of those opportunities to pose further danger in the second half, apart from a Sheraldo Becker free-kick that was off target. Instead, it was the hosts who struck, with Boniface proving the nemesis once again to tee up Lazare Amani with just over an hour gone. The tie was then beyond Die Eisernen once and for all when substitute Janik Haberer was sent off for a second yellow card on 80 minutes. The hosts then added a third deep in added time through Loic Lapoussin. It ends another magical chapter in Union’s fairy-tale season that has seen them lead the Bundesliga table for the first time in their history. They can now return their focus to domestic action, where they are seven points behind Bayern Munich in fourth and through to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup, where they will visit Eintracht Frankfurt in April.
Match stats
- Union have still never progressed beyond two knockout rounds in a European competition.
- This was the first time in four two-legged ties that the Berliners lost the second leg (previously two wins and a draw).
- Die Eisernen’s run of three consecutive away clean sheets in the Europa League came to an end.
- Union’s record in the Europa League this season was five wins, two draws and three defeats. One of those victories includes a famous 3-1 success over Ajax in the previous round.
Teams
Saint-Gilloise: Moris - Nieuwkoop, Burgess, Kandouss, Van der Heyden - Lapoussin, Teuma (c) (El Azzouzi 85’), Lynen - Amani, Boniface (Terho 90'+2), Adingra (Nilsson 67’)
Unused subs: Imbrechts, Pirard, Eckert, Puertas, Sykes, Machida, Huygevelde
Out: Vertessen (knock)
Coach: Karel Geraerts
Union: Ronnow - Doehkhi, Knoche, Leite - Juranovic (Trimmel 74’), Laidouni (Haberer 56’), Khedira (c), Thorsby (Leweling 67’), Roussillon (Gießelmann 74’) - Becker, Michel (Jordan 56’)
Unused subs: Grill, Stein, Jaeckel, Maciejewski, Kemlein
Out: Baumgartl (ineligible), Behrens (ill), Busk (ineligible), Seguin (ineligible), Möhwald (ineligible), Öztunali (ineligible), Pantovic (ineligible), Schäfer (foot)
Coach: Urs Fischer
As it happened
Full-time
Won't count
Another break from the hosts as Boniface lays it out right to Nieuwkoorp, whose cross is deflected and Amani knees it in. But it's soon ruled out for offside on review.
Red for Haberer
Really not sure what Haberer can do about this. He's delivering a cross. Once he's hit the ball, Lynen puts his leg in the way and the Union man catches him on the knee. The Spanish referee decides it was deliberate and shows the substitute a second yellow.
Leite!
Teasing corner in from Trimmel. Leite gets a good run and leap at it, but he can't put his header on target.
Another Boniface effort
No pressure on the ball from Union, who are throwing men forward. Boniface decides to have a crack from 25 yards. It stings the palms of Ronnow but nothing more.
Wide from Becker
The Dutchman over a free-kick this time from right of the D. He goes around the wall but can't find the bend to bring it back on target.
Another blow
Again Union are caught out at a turnover. Boniface crosses into the middle from the left and Amani whacks it home.
Yellow for Haberer
The midfielder is quickly into the action but catches Teuma on the ankle and is shown yellow. He's not one of those at risk of a suspension if Union can progress.
Jordan, Haberer on
It's been well over half an hour since Union mustered up a shot. On come fresh legs to try and change that.
Changes coming
Urs Fischer tends to freshen things up on the hour mark. He's got his first two substitutes ready early today.
Beware the break
The hosts are able to just sit back and look to hit Union on the counter. They try to break away through Boniface, who's proven himself a real handful, but he's held back on the halfway line.
Laidouni suspended
The January arrival was one of five Union players a booking away from missing a potential quarter-final if they got booked today. He's now in the book.
What can Union produce?
The Berliners have scored six of their 10 Europa League goals this season in the second half of games. They could do with another post-break showing again today.
Kick-off!
Half-time: St. Gilloise 1-0 Union Berlin (agg: 4-3)
Time for a break in Belgium. Big team talk coming up from Urs Fischer with his side in need of a goal in the second half. They've had some efforts but none testing goalkeeper Anthony Moris. Half-time
Added time
We'll have one extra minute in Brussels.
Ball into the box
Union have looked at their most threatening from set pieces. This time Juranovic delivers a deep corner from the left, that's put back into the mixer, but an offside flag halts any further attempts to get at the ball.
Sharing the ball
Both teams are seeing the ball, with neither really using their midfield as they look to go from back to front quickly.Ambitious from Adingra
Boniface battles his way through midfield before finding Adingra on the right. He spots Ronnow off his line so has a go from some 40 yards. The Union goalkeeper is very pleased to watch it sail over him and wide.
A rarity this season
This is actually just the second goal Union have conceded away from home in the Europa League this season. It ends their run of three clean sheets on the road in the competition, that included Ajax, Malmo and the group game against St. Gilloise.
Juranovic!
The Croatian got the first equaliser in the first leg and now takes this free-kick himself from left of the penalty area. He's looking for the far top corner and isn't far off, but it doesn't quite have the bend.
Hosts take the lead
As they did three times in the first leg, the Belgians have gone ahead - and once again it's an Union mistake that leads to it. Knoche sells Leite short with a simple pass out from the back. Adingra intercepts and squares to Teuma. The St. Gilloise captain makes no mistake.
Eisern! Union!
Loud chants of alternating "Eisern!" and "Union!" are ringing around the stadium in Brussels as the travelling supporters urge their team on.
Juranovic!
Now it's the turn of the Bundesliga team as Michel stands over a free-kick. His first attempt is straight into the wall but it comes back to Juranovic, who unleashes a thunderous effort on the bounce and has his head in his hands as it whistles narrowly wide.
Off the post!
From the Berliners attacking down their left, the Belgians then do the same up their right. It comes Adingra is played in but denied well by Ronnow. Ball then falls to Boniface, who has his angle closed off by Leite and can only hit the post.
Quick reminder
Remember that there are no away goals anymore in Europe. The 3-3 draw from the first leg is exactly that. It means it's winner takes all tonight, a draw takes us to extra-time.
Calm start
It's the hosts seeing the ball in the opening minutes. The German Union sitting back in their shape and waiting to press.
Kick-off!
Here come the teams
Sami Khedira leads out Union in Brussels. Kick-off coming up shortly.
Recommended editorial content from JWPlayer
At this point you will find external content from JWPlayer that complements the article. You can show it with a click and hide it again.
I agree that external content from JWPlayer will be shown to me. This enables personal data to be transmitted to JWPlayer and cookies to be set by JWPlayer. You can find out more about this in JWPlayer's privacy statement | Edit cookie settings
12:00
Watch: This is Union Berlin
The incredible rise of the capital club from East German obscurity to Europe and the Bundesliga title race.
![]()
Where are we tonight?
This is Union's second visit to Belgium this season to take on Brussels-based St. Gilloise. The Bundesliga club won 1-0 thanks to Michel, with that game played Heverlee. And since the hosts' home ground of the Joseph Marien Stadium isn't up to UEFA standards, they've had to move again for this. But this time it's only across the capital to Anderlecht's Constant Vanden Stock Stadium - a ground that has seen many big games before. Let's hope for another tonight.
© IMAGO/Matthias Koch/IMAGO/Matthias Koch
Team news
The hosts make two changes from the first leg as captain Teddy Teuma and Simon Adingra come in for Oussama El Azzouzi and scorer of St. Gilloise's second, Yorbe Vertessen.
Team news
It's just one change by Urs Fischer from Sunday's 1-1 draw in Wolfsburg as Jerome Roussillon replaces Niko Gießelmann at left wing-back. It's the duo of Sheraldo Becker and Sven Michel who get the nod up top.
Union XI
Ronnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Leite - Juranovic, Laidouni, Khedira (c), Thorsby, Roussillon - Becker, Michel
Union subs
Grill, Stein, Jaeckel, Maciejewski, Haberer, Trimmel, Kemlein, Leweling, Jordan
St. Gilloise XI
Moris - Nieuwkoop, Burgess, Kandouss, Van der Heyden - Lapoussin, Teuma (c), Lynen - Amani, Boniface, Adingra
St. Gilloise subs
Imbrechts, Pirard, El Azzouzi, Eckert, Terho, Puertas, Sykes, Machida, Nilsson, Huygevelde
Fischer calls for focus
The Union coach wants his side to be less error prone tonight and to carry out the simple tasks to perfection. "It's about the basics," he said. "We hope that we don't make those one or two mistakes this time. We have to make a lot of right decisions, [and] push ourselves to the limit."
Recommended editorial content from JWPlayer At this point you will find external content from JWPlayer that complements the article. You can show it with a click and hide it again.
I agree that external content from JWPlayer will be shown to me. This enables personal data to be transmitted to JWPlayer and cookies to be set by JWPlayer. You can find out more about this in JWPlayer's privacy statement | Edit cookie settings
2:03
Union form check
Urs Fischer's men were pegged back at the last away against Wolfsburg last weekend but the point gained did allow the Irons to jump into fourth place in the Bundesliga ahead of Freiburg on goal difference. Union are showing just one win in their last seven matches, but there's also just one loss contained in that sequence too.
How it stands
After both teams won away against each other in the group stage of this season's Europa League, the Berliners had to come from behind on three occasions to rescue a 3-3 draw in last week's first leg. Victor Boniface's opening strikes were cancelled out, first by Josip Juranovic and then Robin Knoche. Yorbe Vertessen put the Belgians in front once again but Sven Michel ensured a Union draw with an 89th Minute leveller.
Welcome along!
Hello and a big Bundesliga welcome to what promises to be a terrific Europa League, Round of 16, second leg that pits the two Unions, Saint-Gilloise and Berlin, against each other for the fourth time this season.
First-leg report
Union Berlin drew 3-3 with Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie, in a helter-skelter encounter in the German capital featuring a stunning Josip Juranovic free-kick and late Sven Michel leveller.
Union Berlin 3-3 Union Saint-Gilloise
Goals: 0-1 Boniface 28' (assist: Vertessen), 1-1 Juranovic 42', 1-2 Vertessen 58' (assist: Lapoussin), 2-2 Knoche 69', 2-3 Boniface 72' (assist: Vertessen), 3-3 Michel 89' (assist: Leite)
Union made a confident battling and attacking start at a swaying Stadion An der Alten Försterei. With the Belgian outfit sitting back, Union sought to force their way through via a typically aerial route – with Sheraldo Becker testing Anthony Moris in the Saint-Gilloise goal with a volley and Morten Thorsby heading wide from the resulting corner. Kevin Behrens forced Moris into another good save from a corner as the Berlin side continued to control proceedings. The hosts' failure to make the breakthrough came back to bite them around the half-hour mark, though, as Victor Boniface’s shot from the edge of the area took a looping deflection off Behrens and flew in to give the visitors the lead. Few chances to level things came before the break – until Juranvoic stepped up to take a free-kick 18 yards out and send an unstoppable effort curling inside the near post.
The Bundesliga side continued to take the more progressive approach into the second 45, with Christopher Trimmel heading a cross down into Thorsby’s path but the Norwegian’s effort was blocked behind for a corner. Saint-Gilloise then stunned Union on the break in their first attack of the half, with Trimmel losing the ball and Loic Lapoussin poking it through to Yorbe Vertessen for an easy finish. Jordan had a chance to equalise within moments of coming on as a substitute, but the American was unable to hit the target. Union’s intent paid off when Robin Knoche converted a penalty on the rebound, only for the visitors to carve them open on the break again just three minutes later and Boniface to restore the lead. That sucker-punch seemed to snatch the momentum away from Union for a while, but up popped substitute Sven Michel to slide in a vital late equaliser. With Jamie Leweling getting a stoppage-time chance to win it, the Berlin side will be confident they can outplay their opponents in the return leg in Belgium next week to progress.
