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A steward carries away a flare that had flown onto the field
Photo:
IMAGO/PETTER ARVIDSON / IMAGO/Bildbyran
Union Berlin has won a game for the first time this Europa League season.
At Malmö FF, the Bundesliga leaders won 1-0 (0-0) with a goal by Sheraldo Becker (68th minute).
However, the game almost ended on Wednesday evening after several firecrackers were thrown towards the pitch in the 57th minute.
Referee Halil Umut Meler then ordered the teams into the cabins and interrupted the game for around 30 minutes.
The situation was initially confusing, but on TV pictures it looked as if the firecrackers had come from the Union fans' block.
Several fans of both teams were led out of the stadium by security forces.
Before the break, Union was already outnumbered after defender Andras Schäfer saw the red card shortly before half-time after an emergency brake (45').
Both teams acted nervously at the beginning.
Both Union and Malmö had no points before the game.
Malmö had the first chance, but Joseph Ceesay's shot was saved by Union keeper Frederik Rönnow.
Union also had chances in a tough first half, but neither Sheraldo Becker (27th) nor Janik Haberer were able to take advantage of them (37th).
The only serious upset was caused by Berlin defender Andras Schäfer.
As the last man on the center circle, he wanted to rebuild the game before he missed the ball.
Malmö's Anders Christiansen intervened and made his way towards the goal before Schäfer knocked him down from behind and had to leave the field with a red card (45').
Becker scores the first Union goal of the competition
After that, Union found it even harder than before.
The fast attackers Becker and Jordan Siebatcheu didn't come into their own, Malmö were the better team before the fireworks went off and the game was interrupted.
After the 30-minute break, Union took the lead with the first good chance.
Becker completed a counterattack and scored the first Union goal this Europa League season.
After that, the Berliners played down the time with a man down.
Union is now third in Group D with three points. In the parallel game, Braga and Saint-Gilles drew 0-0.
Both teams have seven points.
kyo