VfB Stuttgart vs Union Berlin Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart Thursday, May 23 11:30am PST/2:30pm EST TV: Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV (7-day free trial is just enough to see both legs ;-) Injured: Beck, Zuber (doubtful) Suspended: Ascacíbar The playoff to decide if it's been a terrible season or a disastrous season. The Bundesliga team has won 8 out of 10 of these, but often the play-off club was a distant third place. This year, Union was tied on points with Paderborn for second in the 2.BL. I'm thinking that Union won't be great, but still might be enough to send us packing if our defense hasn't sorted themselves out. Union got to this point with the league's best defense. For this first leg, we will concentrate on keeping their offense from scoring an away goal. It's nerve wracking to play the first match at home, when we don't know what to expect, but if we can carry a clear advantage into the second leg, it may work to our advantage.
Stating the obvious, but we absolutely must score some goals, and I don't mean 1-0 type games. The defense can't continue to give up goals after the 80/90 minute mark, and we must score multiple goals, or else we're going down.
For positive thinking, I did a sum of the market value of both starting line-ups. Source: https://www.transfermarkt.us/vfb-stuttgart/startseite/verein/79 https://www.transfermarkt.us/1-fc-union-berlin/startseite/verein/89 VfB Stuttgart: $105m Union Berlin: $15m So, it should be men against boys out there, right? On the other hand, some of our men could already be retired if they wanted: Badstuber, Gentner, and Gomez all starting. Let's see a valiant last stand, and they can ride off into the sunset.
Underway... We look dangerous on the attack, but no goal after 20 min. Berlin had a golden opportunity that was kicked into Zieler's shoulder. I don't know if he could have reacted if that was a foot in any direction. A goal would be demoralizing. Get after it, boys!
Goal! 1-0 Stuttgart Gonzalez broke away down the right, skipping over a tackle. He foresakes the 1v1 with the keeper, wide of the goal, and passes to Gentner in the middle, who scores! ...but, this is Stuttgart. Berlin plays a long ball off the restart, and Abdullahi beats Insua with his first touch and scores past Zieler from just inside the box. We are behind on away goals. Halftime 1-1
Goal! 2-1 Stuttgart Mario Gomez got a forward pass in front of goal at the edge of the box. His shot is blocked by a defender, but it deflects off his head and goes in. I bit of luck to go along with a good opportunity. That has got them going. I hope they get more off this run of pressure.
Goal 2-2. Unmarked on a corner. He was a little further out than the first line, but he got good power on it. We can only hope to get at least one more goal, so a draw in Berlin would keep our place. As it stands we have to win in the away leg.
An open header for us. Right at the keeper. Followed by a missed kick by Kabak, which led to an open shot in front. Great streching save by Zieler.
We were hit by a powerful electric storm and have no power, so I can't watch. I hope that there will be a replay, and that I'll want to watch it.
4 minutes of extra time. Good attacking pressure for the last 10 minutes. We could have had a lot more of that with our possession advantage.
Full time. We will have to win on the road. The fans leave very disappointed. I'm more resigned, myself.
Looks like we're going to have to beat them in Berlin, or at least tie them, 2-2. I don't know if they can do it, to be honest.
We look like the better team, but they still created chances - more than us. Possession: 62% - 38% Shots: 12 - 16 On Target: 5 - 6 We should have the advantage there. Our man-to-man advantage was clear to see, but we lack the teamwork they have. We ought to win, I think, but I won't be surprised if we give up a simple goal or two. I have no confidence.
Time to turn this around. Let's get an early goal and put on the pressure! Union Berlin vs VfB Stuttgart Second Leg (2-2 agg.) starts now.
Aogo scores on a free kick!! Beautiful shot clears the wall and lands in the side netting. ...and it's taken away for interference. He made no attempt on the ball, but he was offside in the 6 yard box.
Kabak and Badstuber clash trying to head the ball. Both are bleeding, but they stay on. We're getting some bad breaks here. The longer it goes without scoring, the worse I'm feeling.
They're playing better. They have more shots, and not giving Berlin any good chances. Unfortunately, our chances are long range or crosses that are knocked away. This is dragging on, and time is ebbing away.
Again, we've had the lion's share of possession, but can't do anything with it. If we don't beat them 1-0, or 2-1, we're toast.
Half Time. 45 minutes from the end of our Bundesliga status. Haven't allowed them a shot on goal, I think, but after the disallowed goal, we have to score or go home.