Union Berlin's goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz saves a shot during the first leg match of Bundesliga relegation play-off between Stuttgart and Union Berlin in Stuttgart, Germany, May 23, 2019. The match ended with a 2-2 draw. (Xinhua/Philippe Ruiz)
BERLIN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Union Berlin, who finished third in the German second division league, scored two away goals to hold Stuttgart, who finished 16th in Bundesliga, 2-2 in their first leg of Bundesliga's relegation play off on Thursday.
Stuttgart grabbed the lead twice but resilient Union Berlin always responded to take vital away goals into the second leg on Monday.
The hosts took the reins from the kick off and reaped their first chances of the clash through Anastasios Donis and Nicolas Gonzalez in the opening stages.
As the match progressed, Union gained a foothold into the game when Sebastian Andersson tested Ron-Robert Zieler in the 21st minute.
Andersson remained a threat as he forced Zieler into action once against six minutes later.
However, the opener was scored at the other end of the pitch as Anastasios Donis' solo run and square pass into the box allowed team captain Christian Gentner to open the scoring from eleven meters in the 42nd minute.
It was a short-lived joy for the hosts as the visitor's from the capital restored parity one minute later after Andersson flicked on a long ball before Suleiman Abdullahi scored right-footed from ten meters.
Stuttgart responded well and secured a perfect start into the second half as substitute Mario Gomez danced through Union Berlin's defence to slot home with a deflected shot from the edge of the box with 51 minutes played.
Union remained once again unimpressed and levelled the scores in the 68th minute when Marvin Friedrich nodded home Christopher Trimmel's corner kick to make it two-all draw on the scoreboards.
The visitors almost grabbed the a winner but Stuttgart's custodian Ron-Robert Zieler tipped Andersson's dangerous effort over the bar to save his side a draw.
With the result, Union take two away goals into the second leg, which will be held in Berlin's Alte Forsterei on Monday.
"Nothing is lost yet but we have to win on Monday. Union played well and seized their chances. We will recover and win the second leg," Stuttgart's interim coach Nico Willig said.
"My team staged a great performance. The draw gave us a lot of confidence for the rest of the game," Union Berlin's head coach Urs Fischer said.
