There was already a huge threat of going to the 2nd league – but then came Steffen Tigges and Luca Waldschmidt. The Jokers gave 1. FC Cologne a vital 2-1 (0-0) win against VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga on Saturday (April 6th, 2024).
Until the 90th minute it looked as if the gap to 15th place would grow to eight points and to 16th place to four points. Then the two goals in the final minute and in stoppage time saved their hopes.
Now it’s back to 16th place by one point, while Bochum is back in the relegation battle with just four points ahead of Cologne. Bochum’s coach Thomas Letsch was correspondingly disappointed about the “stolen” points: “There’s just an emptiness at the moment. We’re defending everything, but again only until the 90th minute. That hurts.”
Cologne with a strong start and bad luck at the end
According to coach Timo Schultz’s announcement, Cologne initially appeared as if the team really wanted to get their first win in two months. But Manuel Riemann first parried against Linton Maina (13th minute), then Sargis Adamyan shot a little too high (14th) and later Keven Schlotterbeck saved at the last moment from Davie Selke who was ready to shoot (18th).
Only after this period of pressure did Bochum go on the offensive with a volley from Anthony Losilla (22′) – but this opportunity caused a break in the game. Many duels, long balls followed – and little football. Pure relegation battle. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Eric Martel had the opportunity to make it 1-0. Bernardo deflected his shot just past his own goal (45th+1).
Bochum is lucky that Cologne is missing
Shortly after the break came the moment that fueled Cologne’s fears of relegation for a long time. A long ball initiated another Bochum attack, as a result of which Felix Passlack got to the ball in the FC penalty area and was lucky that his shot was deflected into the goal – the 1-0 for Bochum (53rd). And the chance to focus on staying in the league again became a major concern about moving to the second division.
Cologne now had even more of a responsibility and ran – and was unlucky. Faride Alidou dribbled his way into the Bochum penalty area and finished. As in the first half, Bernardo made a deflection, this time the ball hit the post (69′).
Headers ensure Cologne’s salvation
When everything indicated that Cologne would have to go into the last six games of the season four points behind in 16th place, a double blow from two jokers gave FC new hopes.
First, Steffen Tigges headed the ball into the net after a corner (90th). Shortly afterwards, Luca Waldschmidt was also there with a header (90+3). Ecstasy in the Cologne stadium, tears of joy and relief – and suddenly the great chance of staying in the league.
Tim Wichmann, sports show, April 6th, 2024 6:02 p.m
Cologne now faces a crisis in Munich, Bochum against Heidenheim
The next act in the now even more exciting relegation battle will follow next week for Cologne with an away game on Saturday (April 13, 2024, 3:30 p.m.) at FC Bayern Munich. Bochum will face 1. FC Heidenheim at home at the same time.