1. FC Köln fight against relegation
Once again Cologne missed the breakthrough
Status: 31.03.2024 | Reading time: 4 minutes
1. FC Köln wrestles a draw from Augsburg’s strong team. But the Rhinelanders, who are threatened with relegation, are not happy about it. Not even Augsburg – especially since they missed a club record
1. FC Köln stopped FC Augsburg’s winning streak, but missed out on an important victory in the Bundesliga’s relegation battle. The Rhinelanders drew 1-1 (1-1) on Easter Sunday and are still one point behind FSV Mainz 05 in the relegation zone. After four successes in a row, Augsburg suffered a small setback in the race for the European Cup places.
“We take the point, but we go home with mixed feelings,” said offensive player Arne Maier, who gave the hosts the lead in the 18th minute. The strong defender Kevin Mbabu became clearer and answered the question whether FCA had won one point or lost two: “Lost two! I am personally disappointed. We had everything in our hands to win.”
In front of 30,660 spectators in the sold-out WWK Arena, Arne Maier gave the superior Bavarian Swabians the lead in the 18th minute. But it wasn’t enough for the club record of five Bundesliga wins in a row. The guests, who largely concentrated on counterattacks against the in-form Augsburg team, celebrated in the 33rd minute after a quick counterattack and Davie Selke’s goal.
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“We take the point with us, but we go home with mixed feelings,” said Augsburg’s offensive man Maier. The strong defender Kevin Mbabu became clearer and answered the question whether FCA had won one point or lost two: “Lost two! I am personally disappointed. We had everything in our hands to win.” Augsburg coach Jess Thorup once again saw a determined team that “tried to get three points until the last second.” But she also missed out on rewarding herself. “I’m definitely disappointed,” admitted the Dane. “We had chances to score the second or third goal, but we didn’t score them today.”
After four wins before the international break, Thorup asked his team to quickly repeat the successful “flow”. And at first it worked brilliantly: Maier took the lead after just over a quarter of an hour, after a throw-in from Kevin Mbabu in the penalty area, strikers Phillip Tietz and Ruben Vargas made a precise pass and Maier finished.
The home team had hoped for an early goal, even though top scorer Ermedin Demirovic was missing due to a yellow card suspension. In place of the captain, Vargas was pulled forward into the attack alongside Tietz, while Maier took over the number 10 position.
Selke equalizes for 1. FC Köln
With the self-confidence of recent weeks, Augsburg wanted to take control of the game and pressed heavily. But Cologne then took advantage of a lack of attention to equalize: During a quick counterattack, Sargis Adamyan got away from the FCA defense and laid it across in the penalty area for Selke, who slotted into the empty net in his starting eleven comeback after two and a half months.
In wonderful Easter weather, the teams showed a brisk kick, even if there were only two good chances to score before the break – both for Augsburg, both by Kristijan Jakic. First his header was brilliantly caught from the corner by Cologne keeper Marvin Schwäbe (35′), then in stoppage time the goalkeeper deflected a shot from Jakic with similar bravura into the goal (45’+3).
In the fight to avoid relegation, the Cologne team moved into a short training camp in Spain during the international break. “We went out again and pressed the reset button,” said coach Timo Schulz on DAZN. After only one win in 13 Bundesliga games, the Domstadt team needs a turnaround in the season finale in order to at least stay in the league beyond the relegation place.
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In Augsburg, the hosts pressed for the lead even after the break. Thorup’s team repeatedly got into or into the penalty area with some fine passing. Substitute Dion Beljo was only centimeters away from making it 2-1 for Augsburg when he artistically directed a cross towards the goal with his heel – but Cologne’s Jan Uwe Thielmann cleared it with a tackle on the line (70th).
The guests from the Rhine remained dangerous on the counterattack: Adamyan’s shot was blocked (63′), and the Augsburg team was able to intercept substitute Damion Downs in a sprint in front of keeper Finn Dahmen (73′). Shortly before the end, FCA almost managed to win, but Vargas’ shot from close range was able to defuse Schwäbe (87th).
