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Stuttgart (AP) - VfB Stuttgart simply cannot win at home this season.
The promoted team had to be satisfied with a 2: 2 (0: 1) in the duel between the two surprise teams against 1. FC Union Berlin and did not use the euphoria from the 5: 1 in Dortmund for the first home win in the Bundesliga.
The goals from Marvin Friedrich (4th minute) and Taiwo Awoniyi (77th) seemed to make the difference in favor of the long efficient Unioners on Tuesday evening.
But a double strike by Sasa Kalajdzic (85/90), who was substituted in the 80th minute, in the turbulent final phase saved the Swabian one point.
Referee Sascha Stegemann initially missed Kalajdzic's second goal because of handball.
After video evidence, he decided on goal.
Three days after the spectacle in Dortmund, Stuttgart showed why they are nowhere near as successful at home this season as they are abroad.
The Berliners immediately put VfB under pressure - and that without the injured offensive forces Max Kruse, Joel Pohjanpalo and Marcus Ingvartsen.
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Still, they quickly came to fruition - thanks to a defender.
After a free-kick cross from captain Christopher Trimmel, Friedrich headed to the spot and left Gregor Kobel no chance in the Stuttgart goal.
VfB coach Matarazzo had emphasized the standard strength of the Köpenicker.
For Friedrich it was the fifth Bundesliga goal - each time Trimmel was the preparer according to a standard.
At the first reunion of the two clubs since the relegation in May 2019, when Union rose and sent the Stuttgarter into league two, the guests were the better team even after their leadership.
The Berliners were on the defensive and were rarely challenged by the Stuttgarters.
In the game forward, Union, in which the former VfB captain Christian Gentner was injured, only watched the game from the stands, repeatedly came into good shooting positions.
Cedric Teuchert forced VfB keeper Kobel (23rd) to react strongly.
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The people of Stuttgart made life difficult for themselves.
Inaccuracies in the structure caused the Swabian game to stall again and again.
Mateo Klimovicz's shot, which Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe (14th) fought off with difficulty, was the only notable action:
During the break Matarazzo reacted, who had to do without Orel Mangala for a short time after warming up.
He brought Daniel Didavi and Tanguy Coulibaly.
Both immediately livened up the game.
Didavi in particular was immediately the linchpin.
After his pass, Nicolas Gonzalez (48th) failed with a side pull on the crossbar, three minutes later the Argentine international headed just wide of the goal after a Coulibaly cross.
In the period that followed, the hosts remained dominant and pushed the Berliners into their half.
But VfB did not make enough of their superiority and only had too few opportunities.
The best started Union goalkeeper Luthe with a weak pass.
VfB captain Gonzalo Castro (63) almost took advantage of the mistake, but Luthe, Friedrich and Robin Knoche joined forces to prevent the equalizer.
When Awoniyi increased to 2-0 for Berlin, the decision seemed to have been made.
Then came the big performance of Kalajdzic.
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VfB Stuttgart squad
VfB game dates
Bundesliga table
Squad Union Berlin
Information about the game on bundesliga.de