Union Berlin came agonizingly close to achieving a historic victory against Bayern Munich, only to be denied by a late equalizer. However, the post-match focus for Union coach Steffen Baumgart was not on the dropped points, but on a controversial disallowed goal that he felt was wrongly overturned by VAR.
Key Takeaways
- Steffen Baumgart expressed extreme frustration with a disallowed goal for Union Berlin, questioning the accuracy of VAR decisions.
- Union Berlin led against Bayern Munich but ultimately conceded a late equalizer, missing out on a potential historic win.
- Despite the result, Baumgart praised his team’s performance, particularly in the first half.
Baumgart’s Outburst Over Disallowed Goal
Following the match, a visibly angered Steffen Baumgart did not hold back his criticism of the VAR system. The Union coach was particularly incensed by the decision to disallow Ilyas Ansah’s early goal in the 9th minute. Baumgart argued vehemently that the decision, based on a marginal offside call, was incorrect.
"The first goal is a goal. We’re talking about five millimeters and then giving offside. I have to say: Someone drank paint," Baumgart stated, his frustration evident. This incident echoed a similar situation from the previous week, where Union also had a late goal disallowed after a lengthy VAR review.
Doubts About VAR Accuracy
Baumgart further elaborated on his skepticism regarding the precision of the VAR technology. He questioned the ability to draw such fine lines with absolute certainty, especially when compared to other matches where decisions seemed to take longer or were less precise. "I’ll draw the line for you 27 times if I want. In Bremen, the offside line doesn’t go. You need 45 minutes before a line is drawn, and here we manage to draw the line at 0.5 millimeters. I doubt that," he said.
He emphasized that these were not clear-cut decisions involving a foot or shoulder being ahead, but rather millimeter-level judgments that he believes are too subjective for the technology to handle reliably. The coach’s anger was directed more at the technology’s application than the rule itself, suggesting a lack of confidence in the "Cologne cellar" (referring to the VAR hub) to make such calls accurately.
A Near Sensation Denied
Despite the VAR controversy, Baumgart could still be proud of his team’s performance. Union Berlin put in a strong showing, particularly in the first half, unsettling Bayern Munich with their aggressive play. This pressure paid off when Danilho Doekhi scored in the 27th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Doekhi even had a chance to score a second goal late in the game, which would have put Union on the brink of a historic victory. However, Harry Kane’s late equalizer in stoppage time dashed those hopes, leaving Baumgart and his team to reflect on what might have been.
