Ilyas Ansah scored two late goals to salvage a 2-2 draw for 1. FC Union Berlin in a pre-season friendly against Cagliari Calcio. Sportschau reported on August 2, 2026, that the match at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei saw Union fight back from a two-goal deficit in the second half. The result ends a run of six consecutive winless pre-season matches for new head coach Mauro Lustrinelli's side.
How did the match unfold for Union Berlin?
Union started with high intensity under Lustrinelli. Yannik Haberer tested Cagliari goalkeeper Elia Caprile in just the second minute. That early dominance quickly faded, however. The game became a stalemate as both teams lacked creativity in the final third. Cagliari's Yael Trepy missed a sitter from close range shortly before the break.
The Italian side struck early in the second half. Trepy made amends in the 49th minute, chipping the onrushing Union keeper Fritz Gagzow to make it 1-0. Union looked tired and offered little response. Paul Mendy made it 2-0 after Gagzow could only parry a shot from the edge of the box. Union's defence appeared passive during this period.
Who was the match-winner for Union?
The game changed with a raft of substitutions by coach Lustrinelli around the 70-minute mark. Fresh legs like Leopold Querfeld and Ilyas Ansah brought new energy. Ansah pulled a goal back in the 85th minute, heading in from a Querfeld cross. Deep into stoppage time, the 21-year-old attacker was in the right place again, nodding in a corner to secure the 2-2 draw. "It was important to react after being behind," Ansah said post-match.
What's next for Union's pre-season?
The team travelled to a training camp in Austria immediately after the match. Their final pre-season friendly is scheduled for August 15 against Ipswich Town. Competitive action begins eight days later on August 23 with a DFB-Pokal away match at Eintracht Braunschweig. The Bundesliga season starts on the final weekend of August. The current squad planning and injury status can be tracked on our squad page.
Mauro Lustrinelli's side must find more consistency in the remaining preparation weeks. The opening Bundesliga fixtures will reveal if these friendly results reflect the team's true level. The complete schedule for the first half of the season is available in our fixtures overview. The defence, which was among the league's best last season, needs to regain its reliability.
How does Union's form compare to last season?
The recent friendlies indicate the transition under the new coach is still a work in progress. Compared to the successful previous campaign, which ended with Champions League qualification, the team currently lacks a cutting edge. The club has made targeted signings in this transfer window to offset departures. The development of young talents like Ansah will be key for squad depth. Current league standings and team statistics are available on our stats page.
