BERLIN, Jan 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Benedict Hollerbach scored a first-minute 
goal and won a penalty as Union Berlin beat Mainz 2-1 on Sunday to pick up 
crucial points in their battle against Bundesliga relegation.

Union, who were playing Champions League football last season, had not won 
since October.

The victory was the first for coach and former Union player Steffen Baumgart, 
who replaced Bo Svensson in December.

"We were really angry," Hollerbach told DAZN of the club's losing streak.

"I can't remember how it feels to win -- I don't know when our last win was. 
It'll do us extremely good.

"We need to keep going to make sure we don't get stuck in a negative spiral 
again, or this (win) will just be a drop in the ocean."

Having narrowly escaped a relegation tussle last season, Mainz have impressed 
this campaign under manager Bo Henriksen, having beaten Bayern Munich, 
Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in the league.

However, with Henriksen suspended and watching from the stands, Union took 
the lead just a minute in through Hollerbach.

Hollerbach, Union's biggest threat going forward this season, pressed Mainz's 
Danny de Costa into an error and slid the ball under goalkeeper Robin 
Zentner.

Mainz levelled things up just four minutes later, Nadiem Amiri converting a 
penalty after Union's Aljoscha Kemlein brought down Lee Jae-sung in the box.

The Berliners have struggled to find the net this season but were soon 2-1 up 
and Hollerbach was again crucial.

The 23-year-old was brought down in the box on the half-turn, bringing Robert 
Skov to the spot. The Dane converted, slamming the ball low and right, to put 
Union back in front.

The hosts' victory sends them six points clear of the relegation placings.

In Sunday's late game, two first-half goals from Samuel Essende took Augsburg 
to a 2-0 win at Werder Bremen -- and eight points clear of the relegation 
spots.

Essende calmly put the visitors in front after five minutes with a guided low 
strike.

Moments after VAR overturned a red card against Augsburg's Kristijan Jakic, 
Essende scored again -- this time with his head -- in first-half stoppage 
time.

Bremen could have climbed to sixth in the table with a win but instead finish 
the weekend in ninth.