Tom Rothe shines as Union Berlin see off Holstein Kiel

Sunday’s action kicked off in the Bundesrepublik with Holstein Kiel hosting Union Berlin. Goals from Alioscha Kemlein and Tom Rothe secured a 2-0 win for Die Eisernen.

After a slow start from both sides, the game sprang to life in the 18th-minute as Bo Svensson’s men hit the front. Tom Rothe, who has made the left flank his own in recent weeks, surged down the wing. The cross from the ex-Dortmund youngster was inch perfect for Kemlein who thumped home with a powerful headed effort.

The first-half was marred ever so slightly by a spate of injuries that saw both teams lose a player each. After twisting his ankle, Tim Skarke made way for Woo-Yeong Jeong, while Bernhardsson was unable to continue as Steven Skrzybski entered the fray. Union’s tricky Korean substitute almost doubled their lead before the break. From a Kiel perspective, fans were relieved to see Ivesić clear off the goalline in time. 

Shuto Machino replaced Knudsen after the break as Kiel looked to inject a spark into their rather blunt attack. It almost worked out too as Pichler and Remberg tried their luck from range. The visitors from the German capital began to sit in and defend their lead approaching the hour. This naturally left a lot of space for Kiel to play into before a wall of defenders greeted them, which they struggled to break down. 

Entering the final quarter, substitutes continued to flow as Laszlo Benes and Jordan Siebatcheu replaced the tiring Vertessen and Hollerbach. Fiete Arp also featured as Kiel sought a goal from their hero against Leverkusen last time out. It was a relatively quiet afternoon for Rønnow, however the Danish shot-stopper was forced to act late on. Machino and Skrzybski combined on the wing and attempted to pick out Arp, but Rønnow was alive to the danger. However, the result was put beyond doubt late on as Rothe rose highest in the box to thump home Benes’ corner.