It was pure footballing chaos in the German capital on Saturday, with Union Berlin’s home encounter against VfB Stuttgart producing first-half goals like never before!
Supporters packed inside the Stadion An der Alten Försterei for the Matchday 30 encounter were treated to a record-breaking eight goals as the teams incredibly entered the changing rooms following the half-time whistle level at 4-4.
On four previous occasions, games in the always-entertaining Bundesliga had thrown up seven goals inside the opening 45 minutes. The last time came back in May 2019, when Eintracht Frankfurt eventually saw off Bayer Leverkusen by 6-1.
Yet in Berlin on Saturday, Union and Stuttgart went one better to achieve an unprecedented feat. The hosts appeared to be cruising when Diogo Leite and Andrej Ilić had Steffen Baumgart’s side two goals to the good inside the opening 20 minutes. Yet VfB rallied and were soon level, Enzo Millot and Deniz Undav both finding the target.
In a see-saw ending to the half, the hosts retook the lead thanks to Leopold Querfeld’s jaw-dropping, long-range strike. Recorded with a goal probability of just 1.2 percent, it was the unlikeliest goal scored in Germany’s top flight since expected goals (xG) was introduced as part of the league’s data collection in 2020/21.
However, Stuttgart weren’t finished yet and edged in front when Jeff Chabot and then Chris Führich scored in double-quick time. Incredibly, in the sixth minute of added time, Ilić levelled the game with his second for the Irons and in doing so, ensured the goalscoring record for a single half of Bundesliga football was smashed.
