- Kevin Behrens - 1', 9', 70'
- Milos Pantovic - 90'+6'
- Anthony Caci - 64'
Behrens hat trick lifts Union Berlin to 4-1 win over Mainz
Milos Pantovic goal 96th minute FC Union Berlin 3-1 Mainz
Milos Pantovic goal 96th minute FC Union Berlin 3-1 Mainz
Kevin Behrens scored a hat trick on Sunday to guide Union Berlin to a 4-1 Bundesliga season-opening win over Mainz, who had two penalties saved.
The hosts needed only 52 seconds to open their account with Behrens' glancing header from a smooth Jerome Roussillon cross becoming Union's quickest ever Bundesliga goal.
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The Berliners, playing in the Champions League group stage this season after their stunning fourth-place finish, doubled their lead when the 32-year-old Behrens was left with too much space in the box and scored with a towering header from Aissa Laidouni's cross.
Union hit the crossbar in the 32nd minute before Mainz keeper Robin Zentner pulled off the save of the match, tipping a curled shot by Union's Diogo Leite over the crossbar in first- half stoppage time.
Mainz came out fighting after the break and earned a 63rd- minute penalty but striker Ludovic Ajorque's weak effort was easily saved by Frederik Ronnow.
The keeper, however, was beaten a minute later by Anthony Caci's thunderous volley into the top corner that injected new life into Mainz.
Their joy was shortlived, however, with Behrens completing his hat-trick with another powerful header.
Frenchman Ajorque hit the crossbar before Union earned a second spot-kick in the 87th minute for handball.
Ajorque stepped up again, only to see Ronnow block his second spot-kick as well and Union wrapped up the three points with a stoppage-time goal from Milos Pantovic.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Tobias Stieler
German Bundesliga Standings
Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bayer Leverkusen | 34 | 28 | 6 | 0 | +65 | 90 |
VfB Stuttgart | 34 | 23 | 4 | 7 | +39 | 73 |
Bayern Munich | 34 | 23 | 3 | 8 | +49 | 72 |
RB Leipzig | 34 | 19 | 8 | 7 | +38 | 65 |
Borussia Dortmund | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | +25 | 63 |
Eintracht Frankfurt | 34 | 11 | 14 | 9 | +1 | 47 |
TSG Hoffenheim | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 46 |
1. FC Heidenheim 1846 | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | -5 | 42 |
Werder Bremen | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | -6 | 42 |
SC Freiburg | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | -13 | 42 |
FC Augsburg | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | -10 | 39 |
VfL Wolfsburg | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | -15 | 37 |
Mainz | 34 | 7 | 14 | 13 | -12 | 35 |
Borussia Monchengladbach | 34 | 7 | 13 | 14 | -11 | 34 |
1. FC Union Berlin | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | -25 | 33 |
VfL Bochum | 34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | -32 | 33 |
FC Cologne | 34 | 5 | 12 | 17 | -32 | 27 |
SV Darmstadt 98 | 34 | 3 | 8 | 23 | -56 | 17 |