Union Berlin's hopes for a fresh start under new head coach Steffen Baumgart quickly faded on Saturday, as they suffered a disappointing 0-2 defeat at the hands of 1. FC Heidenheim. The match, held at the Voith-Arena, marked Baumgart's debut, but the result extended Union's winless streak to ten matches across all competitions.
From the outset, Union appeared eager to break their poor form. The team, invigorated by Baumgart's arrival after the dismissal of Bo Svensson, showed early promise. Union's Jordan Siebatcheu almost opened the scoring with a powerful shot, which rattled the crossbar just eight minutes in, showcasing their attacking intent. "We wanted to play forward, we wanted to win against Heidenheim," Baumgart said before the game, expressing confidence in his team's capacity to compete.
Despite their bright start, the match took a turn for the worse for Union. Heidenheim struck first, capitalizing on their first real attack of the game when new signing Frans Krätzig found the net from close range following a well-placed delivery from Leonardo Scienza. This goal, registered just 17 minutes in, stunned Union, who had dictated much of the early play.
The situation worsened for Union when they faced significant adversity following the red card shown to left-back Tom Rothe. After misjudging a clearance, Rothe was deemed the last man and was penalized for a last-ditch tackle on Sirlord Conteh, leading to his dismissal. Facing the prospect of 53 minutes with ten men, Union struggled against the tides as Heidenheim asserted control over the match.
Horst Heldt, Union's sporting director, lamented the outcome afterward, saying, "It's bitter, we had clearer opportunities and should have taken the lead. After the red card, it’s challenging to come back from behind with one man down." The team had shown ambition but faltered at pivotal moments.
During the second half, Baumgart attempted to inject fresh energy by making three substitutions shortly after the hour mark, introducing Kevin Vogt, Lucas Tousart, and Andrej Ilic, the latter making his Bundesliga debut. Despite their efforts, Union failed to capitalize on their chances; their best opportunity came from substitute Tim Skarke, whose effort only tested Heidenheim's goalkeeper Kevin Müller mildly.
With minutes to spare, Heidenheim sealed the game when Adrian Beck, another substitute, slotted home the rebound from Union’s goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had successfully parried Budu Zivzivadze's initial attempt. This goal, arriving at the 83rd minute, illustrated Heidenheim's proficiency at exploiting their numerical advantage.
After the match, Baumgart reflected on the day's events with disappointment, noting how his team started well but failed to convert chances and locked themselves deep with the red card. “It’s a scandal!” was the sentiment echoed by Union president Dirk Zingler prior to the game, expressing dissatisfaction over external controversies surrounding DFB's prior verdict concerning Union's match against VfL Bochum earlier this season.
Heading back to the locker room, Baumgart and his team must now regroup quickly before their next encounter with FC Augsburg on Wednesday, as time is running short to salvage their season. With dire conditions seating them perilously close to the relegation zone, pressure mounts on the team to finally break their winless run. The upcoming matches could determine the fate of both Baumgart’s tenure and the club’s top-flight status.
For Union Berlin, the focus now shifts to addressing the tactical challenges exposed during this match and leveraging their remaining games to stave off the threat of relegation amid growing frustrations and challenges both on and off the pitch.