Jena, July 12, 2026. Regional league side FC Carl Zeiss Jena secured a 2-0 victory against Bundesliga club 1. FC Union Berlin in a high-quality pre-season friendly at the home Ernst-Abbe-Sportfeld.
- Match: FC Carl Zeiss Jena vs. 1. FC Union Berlin
- Result: 2-0 (1-0)
- Goals: 1-0 Elias Löder (12′), 2-0 Kevin Lankford (83′)
- Attendance: 7,015 (including 1,064 away fans)
Early lead for the hosts
In the first half, it was evident that the team coached by FCC’s Marco Grote was further along in their pre-season preparations. While the regional league side begins their competitive season in two weeks, the Berliners still have nearly seven weeks until the Bundesliga kickoff. Jena capitalized on this freshness early: after just twelve minutes, Elias Löder benefited from a misunderstanding in the Berlin build-up play and coolly slotted home for the 1-0 lead.
The Berlin side, captained by Aljoscha Kemlein, struggled visibly in the first half to create organized attacks, making the hosts’ halftime lead entirely deserved. For further analysis regarding sports in Jena, the improved coordination within the defensive unit proved to be the key to success.
Linus Güther invigorates the Berlin game
After the break, the momentum shifted at times. Union Berlin increasingly took control and pushed for an equalizer. A key contributor was 16-year-old youngster Linus Güther, who became the most prominent attacking threat for the Köpenick side after coming on as a substitute. In the 60th minute, he headed a cross from Derrick Köhn just inches wide of the goal.
Only four minutes later, a dangerous shot from Güther following a corner headed toward the goal, which Jena’s Maxim Hessel was only able to clear at the very last moment just before the goal line. Despite this period of pressure, Jena remained focused. After a short water break, the Thuringians regained their structure. In the 83rd minute, Kevin Lankford sealed the 2-0 victory, marking the first defeat for Union’s new head coach, Mauro Lustrinelli.
Outlook on the training camp in Switzerland
For Union Berlin, the intensive phase of pre-season continues immediately. The next rigorous tests are scheduled for the coming weekend during their trip to Switzerland:
- FC Winterthur vs. Union Berlin: Friday, July 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM
- FC Aarau vs. Union Berlin: Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 4:00 PM
Source:
Erste Niederlage für Lustrinelli: Jena ist zu stark für Union Berlin
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.