Jeong denies Stuttgart as Union Berlin battle for another point
| No celebration from Jeong | Alex Grimm/Getty Images |
Union Berlin stunned Champions League hopefuls Stuttgart with a deserved draw at MHP Arena. The visitors ended their first three games of the new year with draws with substitutes scoring late equalizers on every occasion.
The visitors had a nervy start to the game with Livan Burcu lucky to escape with a yellow card after a harsh challenge on Maximilian Mittelstädt inside the first minute. Stuttgart’s other fullback Joshua Vagnoman had the first big chance of the game, but Frederik Rönnow read the danger early in Union Berlin’s goal.
The visitors came close to taking the lead when Andrej Ilić was denied by the post after Jeff Chabot’s howler. Union Berlin restricted the hosts to a solitary Deniz Undav attempt for the rest of the half, while they enjoyed good spells at the other end primarily from set-piece opportunities.
The first-half end the way it started as Nikolas Nartey shouted for a red card to last man Danilho Doekhi after a tussle at the edge of the box. Deniz Aytekin’s decision was a big relief to Union Berlin as there was no foul given against the sought-after center-back.
Rönnow had to be alert early after the restart, however, as he denied Undav from a tight angle. The Danish goalkeeper was unable to do the same when Chris Führich produced a brilliant low driven finish from the outside of the box, though.
Undav was once again involved in Stuttgart’s next clear-cut chance, but Angelo Stiller was unable to kill off the game after a brilliant through pass by the striker. That proved decisive as Union Berlin found the equalizer when substitutes Stanley Nsoki and Jeong Woo-Yeong combined for the equalizing goal in the 83rd minute.
The latter scored against his former club with a first-time finish after a brilliant cutback from the defender. Union Berlin’s last six goals came from substitutes, with half of them saving them from defeats. Jeong even had a chance to win it for the visitors, but Alexander Nübel made a superb stop in a one-on-one duel.
Stuttgart missed out on a chance to go third after their first dropped points in 2026. Union’s season-best unbeaten run extended to five games as they climbed to eighth place ahead of Freiburg’s game in Augsburg.
Steffen Baumgart’s team will have their home support next week when they face second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Stuttgart will travel to Italy’s capital for the Europa League fixture against AS Roma before facing topsy-turvy Borussia Mönchengladbach on matchday 19.
