FC VIKTORIA 1889 BERLIN (Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark)

DFB POKAL 1, FC VIKTORIA 1889 BERLIN 0-2 EINTRACHT FRANKFURT, ATTENDANCE: 10,514

My second game of the day took me back into Berlin and a visit to the Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark.  The duel purpose stadium (athletics/football) is the second largest in the city after Hertha Berlin's Olympic Stadion with 20,000 seats.

Originally built in 1952, it has been used  by various Berlin football sides such as Hertha Berlin II, Türkiyemspor Berlin and Dynamo Berlin who, having used the stadium in the past for European matches, have returned here on a permanent basis this season after promotion to the Regionalliga. The old East German national side also played international matches at the stadium.

Tonight, Regionalliga Nordost side FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin were taking on Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. The game was switched to the Friedrich Ludwig Jahn Sportpark on safety grounds as Viktoria's home ground, the Stadion Lichterfelde, was felt unsuitable for such as big game due to it's small capacity of around 4,500. In fairness it was probably the correct decision as Frankfurt probably brought more than that themselves.

FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin was formed only last year following a merger between BFC Viktoria 1889 and Lichterfelder FC and they qualified for the first round of the DFB Pokal by winning the Berliner Cup for the first time since 1953.

In fairness they put up a good show against their more illustrious opponents but a goals in each half from Alexander Meier (9) and Haris Seferović (90) ensured that Eintracht Frankfurt went through to the next round.

At this stage of my European trip I finally caught up with my friends from Hamburg and, as the fat was chewed, the beer was swilled, I slowly but surely started to go downhill rapidly as the evening wore on...hic!

No pyro, no party - The Eintracht Frankfurt fans at half time

1.FC UNION BERLIN (Stadion An der Alten Försterei)

2.BUNDESLIGA, 1.FC UNION BERLIN 3-1 SV SANDHAUSEN, ATTENDANCE: 17,532

A weekend of groundhopping in Germany began in Berlin on a Friday evening. Naturally the afternoon was spent getting acquainted with the various Brauhuases and Bars around the city before jumping on the U-Bahn to Kopenick, the nearest stop to 'Stadion An der Alten Försterei' The home of Union Berlin.

1.FC Union Berlin are one of two clubs that were formed from the original ironworks team SC Olympia 06 Oberschöneweide, who were based in the East of the city.

This club was a reasonably successful outfit until things came to a head when they reached the regional league finals in 1950. The team was refused permission to travel by the Soviet authorities, so the team fled to the West to take part in these finals (losing 7-0 to Hamburg) and these then became known as Sport-Club Union 06 Berlin.

The club and players that were left behind in the East carried on under the original name before eventually becoming 1.FC Union Berlin in 1966. Both teams use the nickname 'Eiserne' (The Iron Ones) recognising the origin of both clubs.

Union Berlin were founder members of Liga 3 in 2008 and won the inaugural title in 2009, and with it promotion to Bundesliga 2.

The 'Stadium near the old Forester's House' (which is still used today as the club offices) has been the home of Union Berlin (and its forerunners) since 1920. It has terracing on three sides of the ground and a spanking brand new Main Stand makes up the other side.



The old forester's house

 

Tonight was the opening of this new Main Stand and its construction has increased the Capacity from around 18,000 to around 21,000. This meant the crowd in attendance tonight was a season's highest. Looking across to the terrace where the visiting fans were housed, I'd say only about 50 or so had made the very long journey North East from Sandhausen to Berlin.



The new Main Stand

The vast majority of the crowd would not have been disappointed as the home side registered a very comfortable win. Based on this performance it was easy to see why Sandhausen are currently in the relegation zone, as they offered little threat.

First half goals from Michael Parensen (6) and Torsten Mattuschka (32) from the penalty spot (pictured right) gave Berlin a 2-0 interval lead.

Barış Özbek (68) further extended Union's lead before Julian Schauerte (90) scored a consolation for Sandhausen with the very last kick of the game.

I visited SC Union Berlin back in May 2011, here is the link...
http://agroundhoppersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/sc-union-berlin-06-poststadion.html