In a largely meaningless game, 1. FC Köln were only 4-0 down at half-time, but still fought back to within two goals of VfB Stuttgart in Austin (Texas).
Tanguy Coulibaly scored a brace.
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At the end of their trip to the USA, Bundesliga clubs 1. FC Köln and VfB Stuttgart met again in Austin, Texas. The head coaches Michael Wimmer and Steffen Baumgart sent teams peppered with various regulars onto the field, but the two clubs did not act on an equal footing.
The first good chance belonged to Cologne and striker Tigges, who sabered over it from close range (4th), but from then on only the Swabians played. Millot narrowly missed (6′), then Mavropanos pushed a corner over the line (14′).
Coulibaly macht’s besonders fix
In a game that was only played intensively at times, only Schwirten created opportunities for Cologne (15′, 18′), otherwise VfB played mostly. Coulibaly and Vagnoman were too quick to react to the poor FC defense (28′). It became a lightning double strike from the offensive player.
Because the FC striker stumbled in the penalty area after Tigges’ direct counter-attack (31′), Coulibaly did it better. Silas grabbed the ball after an air hole from Schwirten, Coulibaly rushed Strauch – and had no trouble in front of Horn – 3:0 (31st).
From spectacle to show fight
But it didn’t stop there: As if Cologne had forgotten Mavropanos’ air superiority, they let him walk alone through the penalty area after a short corner from Millot. Silas served precisely to make it 4-0 (41st).
After the change of sides, the game turned into a show event, both coaches changed happily. Soldo tested Bredlow with a powerful shot (50′), Kastanaras was unable to convert good work by Perea (58′). The strong Schwirten, Cologne’s best, deliberately reduced the penalty ten minutes later (68′). Adamyan even scored the 2:4 (85th minute) after a lot of preliminary work from Maina. Bredlow only chipped the shot forward and the attacker brushed it off. Schwirten could have shortened even further, but was denied by Bredlow (85′).
While the game was also the end of the year for the Rhinelanders, the Swabians test again shortly before Christmas on December 16 against FC Luzern.
