B. Cortus
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90'
+ 5
TWO STUNNERS TO WIN IT!
Fortuna seemingly decided their two Goals of the Season in the same game today as Rouwen Hennings and Erik Thommy hit the home side to victory. Hennings' hit was the pick of the bunch, but Thommy's strike just entering the 90th minute sealed the three points which take Düsseldorf above Werder Bremen into the relegation play-off spot going into the winter break.
Full-time
90'
+ 2
Substitution
90'
+ 1
90'
ERIK THOMMY SURELY WINS IT!
The winger is in possession out wide on the left with few options. He cuts inside onto his right and decides to fire a shot at goal from all of 30 yards out. It bounces into the box and towards the back post but Gikiewicz doesn't dive to attempt to save it, perhaps missing the flight of the ball as it was hit, and it bounces into the net off the far post. A great hit from Thommy which may well have won this game.
86'
WINNER ON THE CARDS?
We've had good chances for either side in this second half and it only takes one to win a game at this late stage. As we go into the final five minutes, can someone make themselves a hero?
83'
Substitution
82'
HENNINGS SO CLOSE TO A SECOND!
Big chance for Fortuna's top scorer after a great run from Kownacki. He reaches the edge of the box and pokes the ball past a defender to Hennings. He cuts onto his left just inside the Union penalty area before sliding the ball at goal, but Gikiewicz produces a fantastic save low down to his left to keep it out. He's been fantastic in goal today for Union.
75'
GENTNER HEADS JUST WIDE
Lenz cuts inside onto his right foot from the left flank and curls a cross into the box. Gentner gets his head to it with the slightest of touches, but it isn't enough to angle the ball towards goal, instead having to watch it drift just wide.
72'
GREAT STRIKE FROM BÜLTER
The midfielder takes a pass in his stride from Trimmel and shoots quicker than Steffen expected in the Fortuna goal. His effort from the edge of the box is a powerful one too, and the American 'keeper is forced to tip the ball over his own crossbar.
69'
FORTUNA FRUSTRATED
Besides a blocked shot from Kownacki, the home side have not come close to scoring in this second half so far, while Union continue to grow in confidence.
67'
Substitution
62'
Substitution
61'
ANDRICH HAS A GO!
Union close to going ahead as Robert Andrich drives a shot at goal on his right foot from the edge of the box. It's well-saved by Steffen but falls back into the box. Union are first to it but Ingvartsen has his shot blocked, too. A good opening for the away side who are taking the game to their hosts.
52'
A SCRAPPY EQUALISER
It felt like Union needed something like that to get back into this game. A goal from nothing, really, brings them level and now the game goes back to step one and both teams' gameplans are altered. Union now enjoying good possession here.
48'
PARENSEN POKES UNION LEVEL
A corner swings into the back post and is headed towards goal by Friedrich. It's cleared off the line by the Fortuna defence but falls to Parensen in front of goal and he taps it into the empty net with Steffen stranded having helped clear the ball of his goalline.
47'
ANOTHER HENNINGS HIT!
A set-piece swings into the Union penalty area towards the back post and Union are unable to deal with it. It runs loose for Hennings and he laces a powerful shot at goal, but it whizzes just wide of the far post across the Union goal.
46'
Substitution
46'
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
The ball is rolling once again in Düsseldorf with a change at the break as Joshua Mees has come on for Florian Hübner and Union. He slots in at centre-back.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 3
NO ONE HIT WONDER, THAT ROUWEN HENNINGS
Confidence is flowing through the Fortuna striker right now and his incredible performances in the first half of this season were embodied in that ridiculous goal he just scored. An out-of-form player might not have even tried it, or at least hit it into the stands, but Hennings knew he could put it where he did. His 11th of the season - he has the highest percentage of goals for a single team of any player in the league. Will it be the only one in the game today?
Half-time
39'
11 FOR HENNINGS
Fortuna have scored 17 goals this season, and Hennings has hit 11 of them. Their hopes of staying up this season will have plenty resting on his shoulders.
38'
WHAT A HIT FROM HENNINGS!
An incredible goal from Rouwen Hennings to make a late claim for the Bundesliga's Goal of the Year. Oliver Fink's flick from a goal kick sends Hennings in and he goes for goal first-time with a thunderous hit from the right corner of the edge of the Union box. It glides beautifully into the far top corner beyond Gikiewicz's reach with the full force of Hennings's right foot behind it.
37'
INGVARTSEN HEADS OVER
The first real chance of the day for Union falls to their attacking midfielder. He rises highest in the box to meet a cross from the left, but can't angle his header at goal.
28'
BEGINNING TO GROW
The away side have made a slow start here, with Zack Steffen untested in the Fortuna goal. But now they are beginning to string some possession together and push the ball forward.
20'
KOWNACKI FORCES ANOTHER SAVE
A throw-in into the box from the left flank bounces all the way through to the back post and Kownacki meets the ball with a first-time half-volley with his left foot. He connects well, but Gikiewicz is equal to it to push the ball away.
17'
FORTUNA IN CONTROL, UNION PRESSING
The home side are the team enjoying most of the ball here so far at the Merkur Spielarena. Union are doing well with their small amount of possession. Andersson had an opening in the home side's box, but was challenged by Zimmermann and lost the ball. The home side are always winning for challenges than their visitors in these early stages.
11'
AMPOMAH CURLS WIDE
Kownacki is leading the attack again as he approaches the Union box, but he can't decide whether to pass or shoot. Eventually the ball is blocked away to Ampomah, who has options around him but goes for goal on his left. The shot drifts wide of the mark, though.
8'
CHANCES FOR FORTUNA
Kownacki is approaching the edge of the Union box and decides to have a go at goal. His shot is deflected and saved by fellow countryman Gikiewicz, and the rebound falls to Fink. He's under pressure from a defender and can only put his effort wide.
4'
PACKED HOUSE HERE
The home support has come out in numbers to support their team for the final team before the winter break. While the away end is also packed with travelling Union fans who will be heading back to the capital for the holiday season after the game.
1'
UNDERWAY IN DÜSSELDORF!
The penultimate game of the year, first half of the season and decade in the Bundesliga is underway. Let's hope it's a good one, without any tears...
Kick-off!
TWO TOP SCORERS
Robert Lewandowski and Timo Werner are leading the way in the scorers charts this season, but two men on show today are among the best of the rest so far this season - despite playing for club's that are going to be fighting against relegation in 2019/20. Rouwen Hennings (10) and Sebastian Andersson (8) are the top scorers for Fortuna and Union respectively, and will be looking to add to their totals to bring the year to an end in style today.
LAST CHANCE FOR FORTUNA
After Bremen's defeat in Cologne yesterday, Fortuna have a big chance to climb out of the automatic relegation spots today. A win at home to Union will see them go one point ahead of Werder and into the relegation play-off spot into the winter break. For Union, meanwhile, they can climb into the Top 10 in the table should they pick up maximum points.
LARGELY AS YOU WOULD EXPECT
Neither side is too dissimilar from what we expected today, with Markus Suttner coming in to start ahead of Nico Gießelmann at left-back for the home side. While Nana Ampomah also starts on the right side of the attack with Erik Thommy on the bench. While for Union, Marius Bülter comes in to start ahead of Anthony Ujah while Michael Parensen is back into the defence with Neven Subotic on the bench.
FORTUNA STARTING XI!
Steffen - Zimmermann, Ayhan, Hoffmann, Suttner - Bodzek, Morales - Ampomah, Fink, Kownacki - Hennings (c)
FORTUNA SUBS:
Kastenmeier, Barkok, Ofori, Thommy, Pledl, Gießelmann, Contento, Bormuth, Zimmer
UNION STARTING XI!
Gikiewicz - Friedrich, Hübner, Parensen - Trimmel (c), Gentner, Andrich, Lenz - Ingvartsen, Bülter - Andersson
UNION SUBS:
Nicolas, Subotic, Ryerson, Mees, Polter, Ujah, Kroos, Schmiedebach, Becker
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Düsseldorf vs. Union Berlin from matchday 17 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the Merkur Spielarena. Check back here for full information on the match.