Union Berlin and VfB Stuttgart entered the Bundesliga record books on Saturday by producing the first-ever league game to feature eight goals in the first half.
The match exploded into life with a 4-4 scoreline by halftime, only to cool off significantly as the second half saw no further goals, ending in a rare and unforgettable draw.
Before this thrilling encounter, the Bundesliga had only witnessed seven goals in the opening 45 minutes on four occasions, the latest being Eintracht Frankfurt’s emphatic 6-1 rout of Bayer Leverkusen in May 2019.
Union’s Andrej Ilic bagged a brace, while Stuttgart showcased their attacking depth with four different players finding the net.
Though set-pieces dominated the scoring, one of the most memorable moments came from Union defender Leopold Querfeld, who stunned fans with a thunderous strike from 37 yards, rifling the ball into the top-right corner.
It was far from a goalkeeping masterclass — Union netted four times from just five shots on target, while Stuttgart managed six efforts on goal.
Stuttgart sit 11th after the result dealt a blow to their slim hopes of European football next season.
Union Berlin, now 13th, can breathe a sigh of relief as the point guarantees their top-flight status for another season.
