10-man VfB earn last-gasp point

Match summary: 

The game was the expected intense, hard-fought encounter right from the outset, dominated by tough tackling and solid defending and both sides looking to break quickly once they had won the ball. The visitors took the lead on the half-hour mark through Taiwo Awoniyi, and matters went from bad to worse for VfB when Atakan Karazor was sent off in the 57th minute after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.

However, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s charges refused to give up and fought doggedly to the end - and were rewarded for their efforts with a goal in the final minute of stoppage time when Wahid Faghir scored with the last kick of the game to make it 1-1.

The goals:

31^st minute: Union score with a clinical counter-attack. Rani Khedira robs Wataru Endo of the ball in midfield and sprays a long through-ball forward to Sheraldo Becker. He finds Awoniyi on the edge of the penalty area - and the forward whips a left-footed finish into the far corner, continuing his rich vein of form.

90+3^rd minute: VfB are rewarded for their tenacity. Substitute Daniel Didavi dribbles into the penalty area from the right, the ball bobbling somewhat fortunately to fellow sub Faghir. He dribbles past three Union players and takes aim with his left foot from the edge of the box. It deflects off a Union defender and Andreas Luthe can only watch as it sails into his net.

Reaction:

VfB head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo:“As we had expected, it was a tough game with few goalscoring opportunities. Despite that, the second half performance made me feel very positive. After the Frankfurt game, it's the second time this season that we've come from a goal down to earn a point. That speaks volumes for our team spirit. The fans in the stadium today lifted us and gave us energy. That’s why I’m happy that we were able to celebrate the point together.”

Daniel Didavi: “We never give up, so it was an important point for our morale.”

Wahid Faghir: “It was my second Bundesliga appearance and it was, as expected, a tough game. It certainly wasn’t my best match, but I’m very happy that I scored the goal at the end. We’re very happy that we got a point.”