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| 29 April 2022, Berlin: Soccer: Bundesliga, 1. FC Union Berlin - SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Matchday 32, An der Alten Försterei. Branimir Hrgota of Greuther Fürth (l) tries to get the ball against Berlin's Robin Knoche. |
Union Berlin missed a glorious opportunity to take a step towards European football when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by relegated Greuther Furth.
It was Union's 100th game in the Bundesliga but a four-match winning run came to an end in low-key fashion with a poor performance on Friday.
Branimir Hrgota curled a superb and deserved opener for the visitors in the 33rd minute as the bottom club showed a determination to exit the top-flight on a high.
But Furth undid their good work when Nick Viergever lost the ball in his own box to Sven Michel, and the Union substitute slammed home a 72nd minute equaliser.
Union remain sixth but could slip a place over the course of the weekend.
A victory over Furth, combined with eighth-placed Hoffenheim losing to Freiburg on Saturday, would have guaranteed at least seventh, and a Europa Conference League place, with two games remaining.
The disappointment is already very big, Union midfielder Rani Khedira told DAZN. "That was clearly too little in the first half, it was a lousy first half.
Furth in contrast struggled after the break having dominated the first period. Before Hrgota's goal they missed various chances and Jessic Ngankam rattled the bar.
We were there from the first minute, we went in front," said Hrgota. "Union then had pressure in the second half but overall it was a good game from us.
Saturday also has champions Bayern Munich away to Mainz and a crucial relegation six-pointer between Arminia Bielefeld and Union's city rivals Hertha Berlin.
