Before things could get started, the DFB foundations were able to look forward to a good payday. Both fan camps fired a few dozen glowing rockets and bathed the house in fog, green on one side and red on the other. The game started five minutes late. Both 1. FC Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach can expect mail from the DFB control committee and a hefty fine notice – the fixed price of 1,000 euros per rocket adds up to a lot.
The people of Cologne will get over the punishment; for them, Sunday was a day of celebration that justifies extra expenses. The 3-1 (1-0) win against their neighbors from the Lower Rhine was their first win of the season, which has the dimension of a liberating blow. The significance of the success was also evident in Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart, who was too tired to celebrate after the final whistle. Baumgart looked so exhausted, as if he had been carrying stones all day. “A lot has already fallen off my shoulders,” he said later, “we are overjoyed to have pulled this thing off, but it was still only the first victory and a beginning.”
However, Baumgart’s colleague Gerardo Seoane had to suffer even more: “We were missing all facets of the game in the first half,” complained the Borussia coach. His team put in a disappointing performance, only briefly improving in the second half.
Just a brief rebellion: Nico Elvedi (hidden) scores the interim equalizer for Borussia.
(Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images)
The fact that Cologne played better and deserved the win didn’t need to be discussed – it was obvious. The Mönchengladbachers still had reason to struggle with the circumstances. Referee Deniz Aytekin awarded two penalties against VfL, sent off Manu Koné for foul play, and when goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas saved the second of the penalties, Aytekin ordered a replay. Gladbach’s sports director Nils Schmadtke therefore made a detailed complaint to the referee after the final whistle, which was understandable given the number of disadvantageous decisions, but was at best intended to relieve pent-up anger. Schmadtke had no arguments to offer; Aytekin, with the help of his video colleague, gave the correct verdict.
Of all the serious interventions, the red card for Koné in the 72nd minute had the greatest weight. The game, which 1. FC Köln had completely dominated in the first half, was on the verge of a possible turning point until the Gladbach midfielder fouled Dejan Ljubicic. Because the Cologne team had failed to take a bigger lead despite great dedication and good opportunities, the Borussia team got back into the game with a single successful moment, in keeping with the classic principle of such games. As is typical for such turnaround stories, scheme F was enough: corner kick, Nico Elvedi header – goal. The equalizer in the 61st minute allowed the game to start over for Borussia.
Then Koné hit Ljubicic’s ankle with his running tackle and the fortunes of the encounter changed again. Aytekin initially left it with yellow, but was quickly proven wrong when he checked the TV images. And as soon as the Cologne team were in the majority, their attacks rolled again. A mistake by goalkeeper Nicolas, who hit Cologne’s Luca Waldschmidt in the face instead of the ball, led to the second penalty of the game. Florian Kainz confidently converted the first to take the lead (12th), and he shot the second pitifully into Nicolas’ arms. But Gladbach’s goalkeeper had not positioned himself correctly – Aytekin had to repeat the process and Kainz scored. Gladbach fought back honorably again until Waldschmidt made it 3-1 shortly before the end.