Key Takeaways
- The match finished 2-2 after late drama at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
- 1. FC Köln led twice but could not hold on against the hosts.
- The point moves both clubs closer to Bundesliga safety.
1. FC Köln and 1. FC Union Berlin earned a crucial point each in their battle to stay clear of the relegation zone. The two sides produced an exciting 2-2 draw in the German top flight.
The game began slowly. Both teams showed caution and kept their shape at the back. Union Berlin created the first clear opening after 24 minutes. Aljoscha Kemlein struck the woodwork when he should have scored. The chance came after a mistake by Köln keeper Marvin Schwäbe.
Köln grew into the match and took the lead in the 31st minute. Marius Bülter fired a stunning shot from outside the box that found the net. Luca Waldschmidt provided the assist for the opening goal. The visitors nearly doubled their advantage before the break, but Diogo Leite made a vital last-ditch tackle to keep his team in the game.
After half-time, Köln continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack. Jakub Kaminski went close to scoring but his shot went wide while he was falling. The away side did get their second goal in the 61st minute. Young striker Said El Mala scored his 12th goal of the season with a cool finish inside the box.
The Union Berlin boss made three changes around the 70-minute mark. The substitutes made an immediate impact. Tom Rothe pulled one back in the 74th minute from a Christopher Trimmel corner. The hosts pushed forward for an equaliser and found it in the 89th minute. Burcu scored the crucial goal to level the scores at 2-2.
The referee blew the final whistle with the score tied. Both Köln and Union Berlin will feel relieved to take a step towards securing their Bundesliga status for next season.