In front of 40,000 fans
1. FC Köln continued its remarkable Bundesliga season under the new coach Steffen Baumgart with another sense of achievement and celebrated the first big football party since the outbreak of the corona pandemic. In front of 40,000 spectators in the home stadium, the first Bundesliga champions defeated newly promoted SpVgg Greuther Fürth 3: 1 (0: 1) on Friday evening despite an early deficit and now moved up to sixth place in the Europa League with twelve points. Sebastian Andersson (50th minute) and two Ellyes Skhiri (55th and 89th) turned an early deficit through the goal of Marco Meyerhöfer (7th).
The bottom of the table Fürth has to wait for the first win this season, it was the fifth defeat in a row and the sixth overall. Stefan Leitl’s team still only has one point in their account, the next attempt to win is on October 16, the promoted duel with VfL Bochum.
Floodlights and an almost full stadium for the first time after the new Corona Protection Ordinance – FC had to wait a long time for that. But the great atmosphere in the arena was quickly dampened when Fürth took the lead early on through Meyerhöfer. The 25-year-old tunnelled Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn after being staged by Timothy Tillman with a fine pass.
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One of the two readjustments made by Fürth trainer Leitl paid off immediately. Tillman, 22 years old, made his starting XI debut instead of Julian Green. The second change in the guests caused even more sensation. So long-time regular goalkeeper Sascha Burchert surprisingly had to vacate his place between the posts for Marius Funk.
Leitl noted that his team had “improved enormously” in the last three games. And Fürth presented itself in the further course of the game by no means like a designated relegated team. Passing safely, quickly switching with a modern play system, the Franconians presented FC with enormous problems and were unlucky that newcomer Jeremy Dudziak hit the post twice (32nd). Previously, the game association had already caused danger with a free kick by Paul Seguin (23rd).
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And the Cologne? The hosts responded with angry but often imprecise attacks on the residue. However, the FC hardly came to deals in the first 45 minutes. Andersson’s headers next to the goal (25th) and Anthony Modeste on Keeper Funk (43rd) were the best actions. Baumgart had been completely on the offensive. In addition to Andersson and Modeste, Mark Uth was also allowed to run.
If the FC presented themselves completely harmless for 45 minutes, the Baumgart-Elf came out of the cabin as if transformed. And within a few minutes the game was turned. After a great combination over Florian Kainz and Benno Schmitz, it was Andersson who pushed the ball over the line. Previously, Fürth’s keeper had reacted a little hesitantly against Schmitz. The goalkeeper did better when he parried against Andersson immediately afterwards (52nd).
But the Fürth could not withstand the constant pressure. After a corner, Skhiri hit the far post for the FC leadership. There was no longer any sign of the game association’s cheeky way of playing, and nervousness spread. Even with Funk, who almost maneuvered the ball into his own goal at a corner. The bar initially prevented Cologne’s third goal (60th). When Fürth threw everything forward, FC countered ice cold and made everything clear through Shkiri.
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