1. FC Union won the dress rehearsal before the start of the Bundesliga again. The Berliners defeated the Slovakian first division club MSK Zilina 3-1 (2-1) on Saturday in front of 3618 spectators in the An der Alten Försterei stadium. The goals came from Genki Haraguchi, Danilho Doekhi and substitute Kevin Behrens for Union and Timotej Jambor for the visitors. It was the sixth win in six friendly games for the Berliners, but a week before the first league game against TSG Hoffenheim they showed a mixed performance.
After returning from the training camp on Wednesday, a day off and the first session in Köpenick, coach Urs Fischer had to do without seven players against Zilina. It was clear that the midfielders Andras Schäfer (training after a foot fracture) and Morten Thorsby (stomach surgery) would not be enough.
The cold-related absences of Rani Khedira, Sheraldo Becker, Paul Seguin, Jamie Leweling and Sven Michel thwarted Fischer’s plan to perfect the processes for the Bundesliga restart.
Tim Skarke played for Becker, Khedira was replaced by Aljoscha Kemlein from the U19s. For newcomer Jerome Roussillon it was not enough for a mission after just one training session. At the training camp, tactical flexibility and in particular the back four were one of the focal points, but against Zilina Fischer relied on the well-tried 3-5-2.
Union had the first chance through Jordan Siebatcheu Pefok, but the striker lacked the necessary determination in front of goal after a good deep pass from Tim Skarke. His mixture of shot and cross pass cleared the Slovakian defense. Otherwise, not much happened in the Berlin offensive. In the last third there was a lack of precision and pass sharpness – and of course Becker’s speed would have been good. It became even more dangerous when Julian Ryerson put pressure on the left side. It was also a cross from the Norwegian that prepared Haraguchi for the 1-0.
At this point, the guests could have been in the lead. The defensive switching movement at Union was far too slow and Zilina passed a pass in depth several times in order to get close to the penalty area with good prospects. After a cross from the left, the striking Adrian Kapralik headed in from the best position, but missed the goal.
After almost half an hour it was Kapralik again who embarrassed the Union back line. The Berliners made two careless mistakes in their own half in the person of Janik Haberer and Ryerson and with a bit of luck Kapralik scurried into the penalty area, where he was brought down by Rönnow. Jambor safely converted the penalty due.
Union responded with two chances from Ryerson and Skarke, but just before half-time it was a set piece that favored Berlin’s second goal. A Christopher Trimmel corner extended the ball at the near post and Danilho Doekhi fired in from the penalty spot.
Fischer made two changes during the break and brought on Niko Gießelmann and Paul Jaeckel. Later, Kevin Behrens, Levin Öztunali, Kevin Möhwald, Milos Pantovic and Diogo Leite also came into play. The guests changed even more frequently. It was anything but good for the game, the pace kept dropping and the action rippled in the Köpenick rain. Behrens made the most dangerous impression. After being denied by Zilina goalkeeper Lubomir Belko, the striker scored Berlin’s third goal ten minutes from time.
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