Chances go begging in defeat

Match summary:

Alexander Nübel began in goal as Sebastian Hoeneß’ team enjoyed a strong start to their first Bundesliga assignment of the new season. They dominated possession and had the first effort on goal through Jeff Chabot, only for Union Berlin goalkeeper Frederik Rönnow to make a good save (12’).

The home side took the lead out of the blue, however, when attacker Ilyas Ansah fired in an eye-catching effort from 25 yards in the 18^th minute. 

Ansah at the double

VfB kept going forward in search of an equaliser but were unable to find the net. Ansah showed them how it was done shortly before the interval with his second of the game (45’+4). Hoeneß’ side threw everything forward in the second half in a bid to turn things around, and although summer arrival Tiago Tomás reduced the deficit in the 86^th minute, it was not enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat at full time.

Goals:

18^th minute: Union take the lead against the run of play. Ansah tries his luck from range and the ball flies in off the inside of the post. 

45^th+4 minute: Ansah strikes again. The Union attacker wins possession on the halfway line before spreading it out wide, sprinting forward into the box and smashing in the hosts’ second goal on the volley. 

86^th minute: Chris Führich delivers a cross from the left and finds Tomás, who guides the ball artistically into the net with his heel. It’s no more than a late consolation, though, as VfB lose 2-1. 

Special mentions:

Tomás made his 100^th Bundesliga appearance when he was substituted on in the 65^th minute; 42 of those have been for VfB and 58 for VfL Wolfsburg. 

Lazar Jovanovic joined VfB from Red Star Belgrade over the summer. He made his Bundesliga debut when he replaced Atakan Karazor in the 82^nd minute.