The summer of cup finals in Berlin kicked off with a bang: In a dramatic final of the Nike Youth Cup for A-juniors, Berliner SC defeated 1. FC Union Berlin 5:3 on penalties to win the title and play in the DFB Cup for juniors next season. 1,104 spectators watch the memorable encounter at the Werner-Seelenbinder-Sportpark in Neukölln.
/ Male Juniors
A-Juniors: Berliner SC celebrates cup win after penalty thriller
Union dominate, Berliner SC counterattack dangerously
After a long period of very gray weather on the Wednesday before Ascension Day, the sun came out just in time for kick-off of the first final of the Berlin Cup final summer and ensured pleasant soccer weather at Werner-Seelenbinder-Sportpark. From the outset, the higher-ranked A-Junior Bundesliga side from Köpenick dominated the game, but were unable to capitalize on their larger share of possession. Linus Güther, the second-youngest player in the history of the Bundesliga and already a member of the Union squad, got into promising positions in the opening quarter of an hour - including in the 6th minute, when he fired a shot from the corner of the penalty area just over the crossbar.
Further shots by 1. FC Union were also either blocked or missed the Berliner SC goal guarded by Richard Radler. After around 20 minutes, the regional league side then ventured into their own attack more and more often and made their first dangerous pinpricks with quick counter-attacks. A shot from Moshood Alade Oleakan Gafar narrowly missed the right-hand side of the box (26') and a little later Kayode Famson was just blocked in a dangerous position (30').
Neither team was able to reward themselves for their attacking efforts before half-time and so the teams went into the dressing rooms and to the barbecue stand, where, as is familiar from the home games of SV Tasmania at the Werner-Seelenbinder-Sportpark, delicious cevapcici were served as usual.
Substitute goalkeeper decides penalty shoot-out
After the break, Union came back onto the pitch full of energy: Dmytro Bogdanov, who has also been a member of the professional squad this season, missed the best chance of the game so far shortly after the restart when he shot just wide of the right-hand post (47'). Linus Güther was also denied a chance to celebrate when he tried again from a good position in the 59th minute.
What the Köpenickers missed on one side of the pitch, Berliner SC made up for on the other: After 84 minutes, the spell was broken when Frank Junior Uzor scored with a deflected shot to make it 1-0, turning towards the BSC fan curve and sending the supporters into ecstasy. While the regional league team was already dreaming of winning the cup, 1. FC Union raced to equalize in the final minutes. Leon Prosche actually managed to do so, slotting home a rebound from the goalkeeper from close range after a free-kick to make it 1:1.
The cup final thriller thus had to be decided from the spot. Shortly before the end of normal time, Berliner SC made a change at goalkeeper and brought in Aliyar Sahin, a real penalty shoot-out specialist - a move that paid off. The new goalkeeper saved two Union penalties, paving the way for Inem Bassey, who held his nerve and slotted the final and decisive shot of the evening into the net. The final score was 5:3 for Berliner SC, giving the Charlottenburg side the cup win and qualification for the DFB Junior Cup. Aliyar Sahin was also awarded the "Man of the Match" trophy.
The BFV would like to thank the finalists and the team of referees, the organizing team of the youth committee and all other helpers and supporters who made this final of the Nike Youth Cup A-Juniors unforgettable for everyone involved.
B-junior derby on Ascension Day
Tomorrow, May 14, 2026, the next Nike Youth Cup delicacy will follow: The B-Juniors of 1. FC Union Berlin and Hertha BSC will play their final match at Werner-Seelenbinder-Sportpark at 2:30 pm. All information about the match can be found on the landing page: Nike Youth Cup 2026
Kategorien: Male Juniors
