Voglsammer ends St. Pauli DFB Cup dream as Union Berlin reach last four
Union Berlin came from behind to reach the DFB Cup semi-finals after substitute Andreas Voglsammer's goal saw them edge out Bundesliga 2 high flyers St. Pauli on Tuesday.
Both sides had high hopes of going deeper in the competition following the previous round, when Union won a derby against fellow top-flight outfit Hertha Berlin and Pauli dumped out holders Borussia Dortmund.Union started as favourites in a meeting of two cult clubs, though, given their elevated status and the benefit of having home advantage at their iconic Stadion an der Alten Försterei ground. Grischa Prömel headed wide for the home side and Marcel Beifus got a shot on target from distance for the visitors in the early exchanges, but it was Union who looked more likely to score after forcing a series of set-pieces. Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi was a lively presence up front, but it was one of Pauli's best players this season who would strike first. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh won a free-kick on the edge of the area and took it himself, with the Ghanaian's firm hit around the wall bouncing just before passing Frederik Ronnow in the Union goal. Niko Gießelmann and Sheraldo Becker then had chances as Union responded well but it looked like Pauli would get to half-time with their lead intact. That was until Awoniyi chased a long ball forward and visiting goalkeeper Dennis Smarsch raced out to meet him. The ball broke off the keeper to Becker, who adjusted his body smartly to hook into the net with virtually the last kick of the half.
Pauli has already lost Max Dittgen to injury in the first half and they made another change at the break when Finn Becker was introduced. Jakov Medic made a good block from Timo Baumgartl as Union sought a winner, and they looked the more dominant side in a scrappy second half. By the 70-minute mark they had had 13 shots and six corners, but Pauli looked relatively comfortable. Medic failed to clear a Paul Jaeckel punt forward, however, and he slipped as well to allow Voglsammer to pick his spot only 10 minutes after coming on. The summer signing came close to a third when he hit the post in additional time, but Pauli would have one last chance of their own. Substitute Simon Makienok was inches away from forcing extra-time when he sent a rasping shot just wide via a deflection, but Union held on to move to within 90 minutes of only their second ever final.
Match stats
Voglsammer scored the opening goal in Union's win over Hertha in the last 16.
Union had reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for just the third time. They were eliminated at this stage by Bayer Leverkusen in 2019/20, but reached the final in 2000/01 as a third-tier club, losing to Schalke but still qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
The Berliners had lost their previous seven DFB Cup games at home by an aggregate score of 26-5. Their last victory in the competition at the Alte Försterei came over Duisburg in August 2001 (1-0) - the season of their only previous European campaign before this.
This was Die Kiezkicker’s fifth appearance in the DFB Cup quarter-finals, and first since 2005/06. That was also the only time they’ve gone further, ultimately losing 3-0 to Bayern Munich in the semis.
Pauli won the only previous DFB Cup meeting with Union (3-2 in 1994/95) and the most recent encounter by the same score in the 2018/19 Bundesliga 2 campaign. But they trail the overall head-to-head with eight wins to 12 (plus six draws).
DFB Pokal Quarter-final Quarter-final Stadion An der Alten Försterei
90'
+ 3
UNION THROUGH TO SEMI-FINALS!
The Bundesliga club prevail, after coming from behind to end Pauli's run. Voglsammer's goal from the bench decides it. Pauli's attentions now turn to their promotion bid - but what a ride it's been. And what a season Union are having!
Full-time
End of second half
90'
+ 3
CLOSE!
Smarsch is up for Pauli. Makienok swings a boot in the box... wide! That's surely that?!
90'
+ 1
POST!
Voglsammer hones in on the Union goal, with the chance to wrap up the contest. He holds off Irvine and bends goalwards, but his strike smacks the woodwork.
90'
+ 1
ADDED TIME
Into the first of three additional minutes. Are Union heading for the semi-finals, or will Pauli send this quarter-final tie to extra-time?
88'
LIKE-FOR-LIKE DOUBLE CHANGE
Eat away the clock - check. Fresh legs - check. Michel and Ryerson are on for Union.
Hartel sends a speculative effort a good few yards wide of the Union goal. It's been a frustrating second half for Pauli - can they summon one last push?
Union lead for the first time! There doesn't seem to be much on as Medic picks off Jaeckel's cross, but a piece of miscontrol is pounced on by substitute Voglsammer. He sets himself, before lashing into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Inspired change by Fischer!
Smarsch goes into the back of Prömel, but both players appear OK to continue.
71'
WIDE!
Becker collects a long ball into the box and goes for goal, but it drifts wide of the far post. Union are taking charge...
68'
NO PENALTY
Voglsammer goes to ground as he tries to get off a shot on the turn from inside the six-yard area. Medic is the alleged culprit, but the referee is unmoved.
Smarsch miscues a clearance straight to the head of Baumgartl. He steers it goalwards from 20 yards, but Medic is there to clear in front of the goalline.
52'
WHO WANTS IT MORE?!
It's pretty open in Berlin, with both sides finding joy in the wide areas. If it's all square after 90 minutes, we'll have extra-time, remember. And don't rule out penalties!
46'
MIDFIELD SWITCH
A like-for-like change in the Pauli midfield. Perhaps Aremu is carrying a knock?
A very entertaining half of DFB Cup football comes to a close, with Union back on level terms against Pauli. More of the same, please.
Half-time
45'
BECKER LEVELS!
Becker has Union level, right on the stroke of half time. Smarsch doesn't fully deal with Awoniyi's knockdown from Baumgartl's long punt, and Becker simply turns the ball in from close range. Game on in the capital!
Pauli continue to cause Union trouble when they do advance into the final third. Burgstaller meets a low cross, but a red shirt gets in the way. That was going in!
39'
PAULI CHANGE
Lars Ritzka's on for Maxi Dittgen, who appears to have pulled a thigh muscle.
Trimmel delivers a peach of a cross towards the back post, but Gießelmann doesn't get enough behind his effort and a golden chance goes begging. Union should be level.
21'
KYERAH SPECIAL!
Kyereh wins a free-kick under Baumgartl's challenge, right on the edge of the Union area. The Ghanaian scored from a similar position at the weekend, and repeats the trick with an unerring effort beyond Rönnow. Another Pauli scalp is on!
Awoniyi drives in off the left-hand side, but his shot from inside the area doesn't seriously trouble Smarsch. Union still looking the more likely...
11'
AWO-NEARLY!
Union find space on the right-hand side with Becker, who crosses for Awoniyi. The Nigerian doesn't connect with it, though, and Zander is able to clear behind for a corner.
7'
SET-PIECE PROMISE
Another set-piece situation for Union as Aremu upends Haraguchi in a central position, 20 yards from goal. Trimmel finds the Pauli wall with his effort, and Haraguchi blazes over on the follow-up.
5'
SIGHTER
Beifus winds up from range, but it's an easy save for Rönnow. The tie could be a cracker, at this rate.
4'
WING MEN
Another corner - this time from the left foot of Gießelmann - but it doesn't clear Burgstaller at the front post. Union are really asking questions of Pauli in the wide areas.
3'
UNION PRESS
The hosts are applying the pressure in the opening exhanges as Trimmel sends over a corner that Prömel heads wide.
Kick-off!
DRAW IN FULL
The remaining quarter-final ties take place on Wednesday. Hamburg host Karlsruhe in an all-Bundesliga 2 affair, last season's beaten finalists RB Leipzig travel to second tier Hannover, and Bochum entertain Bundesliga rivals Freiburg.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING II
Timo Schultz (Pauli coach): "The Dortmund game was a highlight, but we're on an amazing run and aim to keep it going in Berlin. Even getting to the second round is not something we take for granted. Now we're in the quarter-final, and have a good chance of reaching the semis."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING I
Urs Fischer (Union coach): "Pauli are competing for promotion and doing well in the cup, beating Dortmund not undeservedly. They're full of running. It'll be a really difficult game."
DOMESTIC FORTUNES
These two could be facing off in the Bundesliga next season. Union currently sit seventh, only three points adrift of the top four. Pauli - Bundesliga 2 leaders over the winter break - occupy the Bundesliga 2's promotion play-off spot, behind Darmstadt on goal difference. Leaders Werder Bremen are only a point in the distance, with 10 rounds of fixtures to go.
KEY MEN
Awoniyi is Union's 15-goal top scorer across all competitions in 2021/22, including one in the second round. Pauli's equivalent is former Nuremberg and Schalke striker Burgstaller, who has two cup goals to go with his 17 in the German second tier.
UNION: THE ROAD SO FAR
Union recorded a 1-0 win over Türkgücü München in the opening road, but needed extra time to see off Waldhof Mannheim. That earned them a city derby against Hertha, whom they edged 3-2 to get this far.
PAULI: THE ROAD SO FAR
Pauli scraped past Magdeburg and Bundesliga 2 rivals Dynamo Dresden in rounds one and two, before dumping out holders Borussia Dortmund in the last 16. The Kiezkicker triumped 2-1 in 90 minutes.
2:04
WATCH: INGOLSTADT 1-3 PAULI
Guido Burgstaller scored his 17th Bundesliga 2 goal of the season as Pauli got their promotion push back on track thanks to a comfortable win at basement boys Ingolstadt.
2:03
WATCH: UNION 3-1 MAINZ
Union had Genki Haraguchi, Sheraldo Becker and Taiwo Awoniyi on target as the capital club ended a recent run of defeats with a deserved victory against 10-man Mainz.
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Frederik Rönnow starts in the Union goal, as he did in the second round. The only other change to the side that beat Mainz 3-1 at the weekend sees top scorer Taiwo Awoniyi back up front in place of Andreas Voglsammer. Pauli also rotate between the goalposts, with Dennis Smarsch makiong his fourth straight start of the cup campaign. Luca Zander and Marcel Beifus are rotated into the defence, while Max Dittgen is preferred in attack to Simon Makienok.
And then there were eight. It's DFB Cup quarter-final time as Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin host top-flight hopefuls St. Pauli. Bayern and Dortmund are out of the competition - who will seize the moment?
