Mith an early goal spectacle, 1. FC Köln prevented the fall into the second division in the last game of the season and abruptly ended KSV Holstein Kiel’s dream of being promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time. After an exciting initial phase, the Bundesliga sixteenth prevailed on Saturday in the relegation second leg against the clearly inferior second division third with 5: 1 (4: 1). The Rhinelander made up for the 1-0 defeat in the last game by rescuer Friedhelm Funkel as professional coach in an impressive manner.
Jonas Hector (3rd minute) and twice Sebastian Andersson (6th / 13th) scored heads in the first quarter of an hour. In the meantime, Jae-Sung Lee (4th) had equalized for Kiel. Rafael Czichos (39th) ensured the reassuring advantage before the break. Ellyes Skhiri set the acclaimed final point (84th). Kiel’s coach Ole Werner (33) had pushed the role of favorite to the first division club despite the victory in Cologne on Wednesday. The 34-year-old Funkel gladly accepted and confidently gave himself up – and was soon proven right.
The 2334 spectators – for the first time in seven months fans were allowed to go to the Holstein Stadium again – were given a lot of entertainment: Both teams did without long touching and tactical games. In the third minute, captain Hector equalized the first leg result. A minute and a half later, Lee equalized for Kiel and brought his team forward again in the overall bill.
Kiel’s dream bursts quickly
But then came the Andersson show: First, the permanently ailing Swede met in the sixth minute, and the 29-year-old was back on the spot for seven minutes. Andersson’s double strike had an effect on the Kielers. The Cologne controlled the game from a safe defense and were dangerous forward, especially on their right side with Florian Kainz. Like Andersson, the Austrian was in the starting line-up.
Despite the fan support, the North Germans hardly managed anything. The return of Alexander Mühling and Jonas Meffert, who were banned in Cologne, did not help either. The exhausting mammoth program in the final phase of the season with now eleven games in just over a month made itself felt early on. After the fourth Cologne goal against the best second division defense by the former Kieler Czichos (39th), the dream was over and the Cologne class stay perfect.
Every attempt a goal against: Kiel’s goalkeeper Gelios experienced a bad first half.
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Image: AFP
Even after the change, the guests were decisive in the game, left no more doubts and could have increased their lead with better evaluation of chances. Holstein goalkeeper Ioannis Gelios saved his team from a major defeat. After a difficult season, Cologne prevented the seventh relegation in club history. They had only saved themselves on the relegation place in the Bundesliga final last Saturday by beating Schalke 04. Sparkle is now allowed to return to retirement as a savior. His successor has already been determined in the former Paderborn Steffen Baumgart.
Holstein Kiel, however, missed the happy end of a season with many successes such as the victory in the DFB Cup against Bayern Munich and many adversities. The team had lost second place and direct promotion through two defeats on the last two match days of the second Bundesliga. After two corona quarantines, the final phase of the season became a deadline. Three years ago, the march of Kiel in the Bundesliga was only stopped in the relegation. At that time they had to admit defeat to VfL Wolfsburg.
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