Fans enjoy firework festival as Union Berlin held 0-0 by Hamburg in Bundesliga

BERLIN (AP) — There were more fireworks off the field than on it Sunday as Union Berlin drew 0-0 with promoted Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga.

Hamburg ‘keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes saved Andrej Ilić’s early penalty in the closest either team came to scoring.

The penalty was also missed by many of Union’s ultra fans, who only streamed into their places in the “forest-side” end of the stadium after 17 minutes when their presence was announced with a huge roar. Hamburg ultras entered the visitors’ end a few minutes later.

The supporters’ rivalry continued after the break when the Hamburg fans displayed a huge tifo showing the team crest with the slogan, “Shout it out with pride if you carry this love inside.”

The Union fans waited for a countdown and then set off a massive synchronized pyrotechnic display that lit up the whole forest-side of the stadium with the resulting smoke causing a delay in play for several minutes.

The Hamburg fans responded some minutes later with a pyrotechnic display of their own, sending more clouds of smoke wafting above the stadium. The game continued, but neither team could score.

Hamburg midfielder Fabio Vieira was sent off in stoppage time for a high tackle on Leopold Querfeld.

It was only the fourth competitive meeting between the clubs after two clashes in the second division in 2018-19. Their first meeting was the German Championship final in 1923 when Union was still playing as Union Oberschöneweide. Hamburg won the first of its six German titles 3-0.

Josha Vagnoman scored late as Stuttgart overcame a poor start to beat Cologne 2-1.

Jakub Kaminski fired Cologne ahead in the fourth minute, but Ermedin Demirović converted a penalty for the visitors in the 28th after he’d been fouled in the area by Cologne ’keeper Marvin Schwäbe.

Cologne had dominated to that point. But Stuttgart improved after the goal and finally got its reward when Vagnoman scored in the 81st after being sent through by Angelo Stiller.

It was Stuttgart’s first league win away from home and its third straight win across all competitions including Thursday’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo in the Europa League.

Freiburg drew with Hoffenheim 1-1 in the early game.

Bayern Munich leads with a maximum 15 points from five rounds followed by Borussia Dortmund – the only other unbeaten side – on 13. Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt complete the top four.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Cologne's Said El Mala reacts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Stuttgart in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Cologne's Timo Huebers challenges with Stuttgart's Josha Vagnoman during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Köln and VfB Stuttgart in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Berlin's Janik Haberer, left, and Hamburger's Ransford Königsdörffer in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Union Berlin and Hamburger SV in Berlin, Sunday Sept. 28, 2025. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)

Berlin's Leopold Querfeld, right, and Hamburger's Warmed Omari go for a header during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Union Berlin and Hamburger SV in Berlin, Sunday Sept. 28, 2025. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)

Berlin's Oliver Burke, left, and Hamburger's Miro Muheim in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Union Berlin and Hamburger SV in Berlin, Sunday Sept. 28, 2025. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues. He had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time.

“I was too broken for the insurance to cover my arm and everything,” Kershaw said on MLB Network, “so now that it doesn't matter I get to go and be a part of this group.”

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw said. “If anybody needs a breather or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.”

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

When Kershaw received a call from U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, he thought he was being invited as a coach.

“I didn't have a whole lot of interest in picking up a baseball again," Kershaw said. “I started throwing 10, 12 days ago and it doesn’t feel terrible, so I think I’ll be OK.”

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gabe Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.

Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan's 3-2 win in the 2023 championship. Kershaw doesn't anticipate facing Ohtani, his teammate for the Dodgers' World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.

“I think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against team Japan in the finals or something. I think we got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me,” Kershaw said. “But if that happens, I'll be nervous. I'll be nervous at this point.”

AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates the end of the top of the 12th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)