Kiel beat Union Berlin in Bundesliga basement clash

Holstein Kiel boosted their slim chances of avoiding the drop with a 1-0 win away at fellow strugglers Union Berlin on Sunday.

Kiel’s Armin Gigovic scored the only goal, finding the net after 43 minutes.

Gigovic collected a pass from Shuto Machino on the turn and slotted home from close range to give the Storks the lead in the German capital.

Phil Harres had the ball in the net for Kiel with 61 minutes gone, but the strike was ruled out for offside. The loss was the latest setback in a bad week for Union.

On Friday, Union lost an appeal against a DFB decision to strip them of a point — and award Bochum all three — from a 1-1 draw at home in December.

Bochum, who like Union are battling to avoid the drop, were awarded a nominal 2-0 victory after their goalkeeper was hit in the head by a lighter thrown by a member of the Berlin crowd.

Kiel’s victory, just their fourth of the season, lifted the promoted side off the bottom of the table, one point behind Bochum who occupy the relegation playoff spot.

The Berliners sit two spots and seven points ahead of Kiel, with 10 games remaining.

Playing in the Champions League against Real Madrid and Napoli just last season, Union have now won just two of their past 17 games.

Later on Sunday, Freiburg can return to the top four with a win at Augsburg.

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