With a lot of effort, 1. FC Köln have lived up to their role as favorites and are higher up in the Bundesliga. Against the bottom line SpVgg Greuther, the team of coach Steffen Baumgart won 3: 1 (0: 1), at the start of the 7th matchday, FC climbed to sixth place for the time being.
Marco Meyerhöfer (7th) had initially achieved Fürth’s well-deserved break lead. Only in the second half did the hosts improve, Sebastian Andersson (50th) and Ellyes Skhiri (55th / 89th) turned the game around. Newcomer Fürth was not rewarded for a good performance and is still waiting for the first victory with just one point. “We were freezing in front of the goal and turned the game around,” said Cologne defender Rafael Czichos on the broadcaster Dazn: “Overall, we have to stay on the carpet, we won a home game against a disgusting opponent, we mustn’t be too critical . ” Fürth midfielder Timothy Tillman was served: “It’s bitter when you catch two things after half-time. It hurts.”
For the first time there were 40,000 spectators in the stadium – they saw courageous people from Fürth
In Cologne, expectations had risen along with the good performance of the past few weeks. For the first time in times of pandemic, 40,000 spectators were allowed to visit the Cologne stadium, the tickets were gone quickly, the fans were singing loudly. They then saw an opponent at eye level. Fürth pressed just as aggressively as FC and took his first chance. After a quick pass sequence, Meyerhöfer was allowed to run towards Timo Horn completely free and pushed the ball through his legs. Cologne made a lot of effort, came to some deals, but did not become dangerous. Fürth managed that, and how: Jeremy Dudziak hit the inside post twice within seconds (32nd). On the other side, Cologne was only very close to a goal until the break when Anthony Modeste headed to Fürth’s goalkeeper Marius Funk (43.).
Only after the restart did the FC show the game that had recently distinguished him: It was now much faster to the top, the attackers finally came into dangerous positions, and Andersson scored after strong preparatory work by Schmitz. The first goal of the season for the Swede, who failed just moments later because of Funk (53rd). Cologne turned the game around in no time: Skhiri pushed a corner over the line.
Since Cologne continued to play very offensively, the encounter remained open, and Fürth also continued to look dangerous. Finally, after a counterattack, Skhiri made everything clear.