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Captain Max Kruse (3rd from right) celebrated his first goal for Union Berlin
Photo: ODD ANDERSEN / AFP
Union Berlin won the opening game of the 3rd Bundesliga matchday 4-0 (1-0) against FSV Mainz 05.
Max Kruse (13th minute), Marcus Ingvartsen (49th), Marvin Friedrich (63rd) and Joel Pohjanpalo (64th) scored the goals for the home side.
After the convincing 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach on matchday two, Union coach Urs Fischer changed two positions: Marcus Ingvartsen and Max Kruse played for Marius Bülter and Taiwo Awoniyi from the start.
His opposite Jan-Moritz Lichte changed in his first game as head coach of the 05er three times compared to the 1: 4 home defeat against VfB Stuttgart: For Ridle Baku (change to VfL Wolfsburg) Moussa Niakhaté (yellow-red suspension) and Leandro Barreiro (bank) started with Alexander Hack, Philipp Mwene and Pierre Kunde Malong.
Already at the beginning of the game it became clear that Fischer had the right nose, especially with Kruse.
The captain of the Iron was involved in almost all offensive actions of the capital city dwellers in the initial phase.
In the 13th minute it was just that Kruse who made the Alte Försterei cheer for the first time.
In Union's first well-structured attack, Robert Andrich Sheraldo Becker cleared the right-hand side well worth seeing.
Kruse's cross headed confidently at the second post to make it 1-0.
It was his first goal for Union Berlin.
After a brief rearing up of the Mainz team, the Eiserne finally took over command.
With intelligent pressing in the opposing half, the home side gave the FSV no opportunity to take offensive action and were able to switch quickly and dangerously again and again.
Again Becker and Kruse were the main players who could have made it 2-0 in the middle of the second half.
When Becker presented, the ex-Bremen Kruse came half a step too late (27th).
Mainz practically without a chance in the first round
And the Mainz?
During the entire first half there was little to nothing to be seen of the FSV.
It was only in the 38th minute that Jean-Philippe Mateta statistically recorded the guests' first shot on goal.
His header, however, clearly missed the Berliner box.
When things went fast in the ranks of Mainz, Union always had an answer.
After Boetius' through pass, Quaison almost came into a promising position.
Friedrich struck the Swedes humorlessly from (43.).
After changing sides, Alexander Hack was able to prevent the Berliners from getting off to a quick start with a resolute action against Invartsen.
A short time later the doorbell rang:
Trimmel found the criminally free-standing Ingvartsen with a flank, who thanked him and hit the far corner with his left foot to make it 2-0 (49th).
Again, Mainz looked spurred on by the goal.
The mostly relatively uncoordinated counter-attacks gradually took place in the sand.
Mateta still had the best chance, but was consistently stopped by Schlotterbeck (53.)
Iron double strike - Pohjanpalo hits 35 seconds after being substituted on
After the 05er rallied briefly again, Union got the game under control again.
With a free kick from the right half-field, Trimmel found the perfect run-in Friedrich - 3-0 (63rd).
The decision in this game.
But the evening should be a little more uncomfortable for the Mainz team.
Immediately after the goal, Union coach Fischer joined newcomer Pohjanpalo, who apparently didn't need any start-up time.
35 seconds after he had entered the field, a deflected cross landed on the loan from Leverkusen.
Pohjanpalo did not hit the ball correctly on the first attempt, but was allowed to follow up with the friendly help of the Mainz back team and scored from a few meters for the fourth goal (64th).
After the freestyle, Union had to do the duty: The home side played very compactly defensively and physically robust down the last minutes.
Mainz did not get another shot on goal.
Pohjanpalo could even have put together his double pack.
05 goalkeeper Zentner parried strongly (81st).
Union sends a very strong signal and is in third place in the table with four points from the first three games.
For Mainz, the false start with the 0: 4 at the capital city is perfect.
The 05er lost all three opening games this season.
Mainz has Bayer Leverkusen as a guest after the international break (October 17).
Union Berlin takes on FC Schalke 04 the following day.
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