The Berlin Derby doesn’t have the history or animosity of other famous rivalries, but that might change after a shocking Union Berlin red card vs Hertha Berlin on Friday.
In just the seventh competitive match between the two biggest clubs currently calling Berlin home, Bundesliga newcomer Union took an early lead through Taiwo Awoniyi in the 20th minute. The match changed dramatically three minutes later following this shocking challenge from Robert Andrich.
This tackle was brutal pic.twitter.com/P79ZttK2l6
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 4, 2020
Here’s a few more angles of that Union Berlin red card vs Hertha Berlin.
There was no doubt Andrich deserved a red card, who tried to pretend he was the one injured after kicking Lucas Tousart in the neck. It wasn’t unlike when Ruan kicked Gary Mackay-Steven in the crotch and feigned injury to try to avoid a red card in a recent MLS playoff match. And just like in that match, the offender’s teammates joined in on the remonstrations, somewhat pathetically given the obvious nature of the red-card offense. You simply cannot raise your boot that high near another player.
Fortunately, Felix Brych is one of the most experienced referees in the world and showed Andrich red.
The match shifted after the sending off. Though it took a while, Hertha used its man advantage to secure a 3-1 win. Peter Pekarik equalized in the 51st minute and Krzysztof Piatek tacked on goals in the 74th and 77th minutes to earn all three points.
The defeat was just the second of the season for Union, while Hertha moved up to a three-way tie for 10th, at least until the weekend games are played.
