Poku and Kofane earn Werkself 2-0 win over Union Berlin

Hjulmand made one change to the team that started Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League as Lucas Vázquez came in for the injured Axel Tape. Poku and Exequiel Fernández were handed their first Bundesliga starts after their outings in midweek, while captain Robert Andrich was on the bench as he returned.

Poku rewards positive start

Goalkeeper Mark Flekken was called into early action to deny Andrej Ilic, but it was the Werkself who posed the greater threat, especially from set pieces, such as Aleix García’s free-kick, which found Loïc Badé at the far post, only to be denied by Frederik Rønnow. The goalkeeper was later powerless to stop an Alejandro Grimaldo effort, which flew just inches over.

In the absence of the injured Patrik Schick, Kofane was busy up front and produced the next chance after a run up the right. It was Poku, though, who finally broke the deadlock when poking in a Vázquez cutback from the right. It was the Dutchman’s second goal in as many games after his winner last week at St. Pauli. The first half ended on a sour note, however, as Grimaldo had to be carried off after a collision at a corner.

Kofane forces second

Arthur and Ibrahim Maza were introduced for Grimaldo and Vázquez at the break. Malik Tillman fired over as Leverkusen picked up where they left off, before Kofane’s perseverance earned a second goal as he closed down Rønnow’s attempted pass and rounded the keeper to double the advantage. García thought he’d added a third but was narrowly offside, while Maza was denied by the post and then sent a shot over the bar.

Flekken had had little to do for a while before a stop from Derrick Köhn. Former Union man Andrich was introduced with 20 minutes to go, as further chances came and went for Tillman and substitute Jonas Hofmann. Jeanuel Belocian rounded off a good afternoon by making his return after 10 months out.

Mainz after the break

The season’s second international break is now upon us. The Werkself return to action in a fortnight with a trip to Mainz on Saturday, 18 October (3.30pm CEST).

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Flekken - Quansah, Badé, Tapsoba - Vázquez (Arthur 46'), Fernández (Andrich 69'), Garcia, Grimaldo (Maza 46') - Tillman, Kofane (Hofmann 80'), Poku (Belocian 88')

Union Berlin: Rønnow - Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite (Haberer 71') - Trimmel (Rothe 71'), Khedira, Schäfer (Kemlein 64'), Köhn - Burke (Skarke 64'), Ilic, Jeong (Ansah 64')

Goals: 1-0 Poku (33'), 2-0 Kofane (49')

Yellow cards: Kofane - Leite, Trimmel, Köhn

Referee: Christian Dingert

Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena