Report | Holstein Kiel Rock Union in Berlin | OneFootball

No side has ever avoided Bundesliga relegation with 13 or fewer points but Holstein Kiel believe they can achieve the impossible after their first away win of the season again Union Berlin.

Story of the match

The first chance fell to the visitors in the fourth minute as Lasse Rosenboom found himself free in the box but his header was tame and easily saved by Frederik Rönnow.

The next couple of chances fell to Union as Tom Rothe and then Danilho Doekhi forced saves from Kiel’s Timon Weiner inside the opening 15 minutes but the game remained relatively flat for the opening 40 minutes.

It took Armin Gigovic to bring it to life.

In the 42nd minute, he received the ball ten yards out with his back to Rönnow’s goal. Taking one touch to create some space, the Bosnian midfielder turned and struck the ball sweetly into the net.

The sold-out Kiel end fell over themselves in delirium as they began to dream of their first away win of the season.

They nearly extended their lead early in the second half.

A well worked move saw the ball cut back to Magnus Knudsen but he couldn’t keep his shot down from 10 yards.

On the hour mark, Phil Harres thought he had doubled the lead as he slid the ball into the net from the edge of the box but from an offside position.

In the 73rd minute, a wonderful strike by Shuto Machino clipped the post from 25 yards.

It was an audacious effort by the Japanese forward and show that the visitors were growing in confidence.

Kiel seemed the most likely to score next.

In the 87th minute, Machino tried his luck again but his shot sailed narrowly over the bar from a tight angle.

Union were growing desperate and Kiel were navigating a fine line of slowing the game down wherever possible.

The remaining minutes were scrappy as Union fired the ball into the Kiel box but the bottom of the table side held on.

Key Moment

Kiel had not won an away game all season before today and it often showed in attack.

They were camped for large parts in their box and relied on sporadic counter-attacks.

But for a side that has conceded the most goals in the league, their rearguard action was disciplined and resolute. Everything it hasn’t been this season.

Union knocked and knocked on the door.

In the seven minutes of added time, Kiel barely left their final third. Every single one of their players deserves plaudits but Gigovic’s goal will live long in the memory of Kiel fans.

His goal proved the difference on a tense afternoon where one moment of magic was enough for Kiel to secure a memorable away victory.

In truth, it may not be enough for survival. They still sit five points off safety but they believe.

And today proved that sometimes, hope is enough.

GGFN | Oscar O’Mara