The highlights from the first half:
2nd minute: Incredible! Werder have a penalty after just 67 seconds. They counter quickly with number 10 Leonardo Bittencourt. He takes the ball wide, at first posing no danger to the Union defence. However, Lenz’s pass is too short for Gikiewicz and Klaassen manages to get there first, before being taken down by the goalkeeper. VAR is checking the incident, and the referee Tobias Welz goes over to watch the replay.
5th minute: GOOAALL for Werder! Davy Klaassen makes it 0-1: After a minute long discussion, Captain Davy Klaassen is finally allowed to take the penalty and puts it straight down the middle. Gikiewicz dives to the right and gets his foot on it but can’t quite keep it out. Dream start for Werder!
13th minute: What’s happening here? Tobias Welz is walking over to the VAR monitor for the second time. The ball has hit the arm of Christian Groß and the referee awards a penalty!
14th minute: Goal for 1. FC Union Berlin, 1-1 Sebastian Andersson: Andersson places the ball on the spot and puts it down the middle of the goal. Pavlenka dives to the left and is left with no chance, 1-1.
36th minute: First chance of the game for Johannes Eggestein. Friedrich fails to clear Friedl’s cross, allowing Eggestein to try his luck. Giekiewicz does well and clears the ball to the corner, averting the danger.
45th minute: Halftime at the Alten Försterei. A penalty awarded by VAR and success from the spot for both teams means they go into the interval with nothing to separate them.