Draw at Union secures us Europe after Christmas

Slavia started with rather unorthodox 3-5-2 formation switching to 4-2-3-1 in certain stages of the game. Alexander Bah returned to the line-up and started alongside Lukáš Masopust on the right side, Oscar stood as left winger, Olayinka and Schranz up front.

After 9 minutes Slavia could execute a penalty after a volleyball-like stroke of Sheraldo Becker, but the referee missed his touch and decided not to blow for a penalty. Eight minutes later it was Union who created first bigger chance of the game. Kruse’s effort from outside the box was deflected by Lingr, but the ball only flew over the crossbar.

In the 33rd minute Slavia could take lead after Oscar won the ball on the left side of Union box and passed it to Tomáš Holeš 17 metres from the goal. Our midfielder beautifully curled his left-foot shot behind Rönnow, but the ball only hit the crossbar to clean it off the rest of the snow.

Shortly after the break Union got into another chance after a set piece, but neither Baumgartl, nor Awoniyi managed to squeeze the ball through Slavia defence.

So, it was Slavia who broke the deadlock after 50 minutes. Ivan Schranz got the ball after Baumgartl’s misplaced pass, made several steps toward the Union goal, and fired it into the top left corner to make it 1-0. Surely one of our most beautiful strikes this season.

And the Red-Whites could be even happier after a situation from 55th minute when Peter Olayinka latched onto a long ball behind Union defence and sent the ball past Rönnow, but his effort only hit the right post.

After an hour of the play Union managed to put Slavia under pressure and after two corner kicks Max Kruse managed to equalise when he fired the ball through several players and Mandous could not reach his deflected effort.

Slavia quickly came back into the game after the conceded goal, but Rönnow managed to save shots from distance by both Holeš and Schranz.

In the 81st minute Ekpai went past two players inside of Union box, but his pass was blocked by one of the sliding defenders. After a subsequent corner the same player got into a shooting position on the far side of the box but sent the ball wide with his right foot.

Slavia managed to keep Union at bay for most of the remaining time and despite several set pieces in the added time kept the 1-1 draw which secured them second place in the Group E and spot in the play-off for the round of 16 of the UECL.