BERLIN: 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 theclub`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 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 EintrachtFrankfurtintheleague.

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 halfturn, 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 2-0win 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 firsthalf stoppage time.

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