Defeat in Darmstadt

1. FC Köln fell to a 5:1 defeat against SV Darmstadt 98 on Friday evening at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor. Fraser Hornby’s brace sandwiched a Tim Lemperle equaliser. The second-half saw Isac Lidberg and Philipp Förster extend the hosts lead. Aleksandar Vukotic added a late fifth.

Team news

Florian Kohfeldt opted for one alteration from the side that started the draw in Karlsruhe. Fabian Nürnberger came in for Guillermo Bueno in defence.

Gerhard Struber made just one change to the side that started against SSV Ulm before the international break. Rasmus Carstensen replaced Max Finkgräfe at right-back.

Behind at the break

The game was action-packed from the get-go. FC had early sights at goal through Tim Lemperle and Carstensen, though Darmstadt were able to get bodies in front of the ball.

Isac Lidberg curled just wide of the post for the hosts, but Fraser Hornby made no mistake in the 11^th minute. Philipp Förster’s scuffed shot landed at his feet before Hornby turned and shot into the bottom corner.

Luca Waldschmidt shot wide from the edge of the area, while Förster’s volley whistled wide from a similar position. FC managed to get back on terms in the 38^th minute after a wonderful counter. Linton Maina picked out Tim Lemperle’s run at the back post, and he powered home past Marcel Schuhen to level the scores.

However, parity lasted less than 120 seconds. A ball into the channel saw Lidberg get the better of Julian Pauli and Timo Hübers to lay off for Hornby to tap-in for his second goal of the game. It could have gotten worse for FC had Urbig not produced a superb one-on-one stop to deny Killian Corredor.

No second-half comeback

There were no changes at the break on either side as FC went in search of an equaliser. Instead of a second goal, it was Darmstadt who went further in front. A counter from an FC corner saw Hornby turn provider for Lindberg, who made no mistake in volleying home from the edge of the area.

Things went bad to worse in the 65^th minute, as another Darmstadt counter killed the game off. After Eric Martel’s effort was saved by Marcel Schuhen, which ended with Luca Marseiler teeing up Philipp Förster to finish from close range. Aleksandar Vukotic added a fifth late on, heading home Fabian Nürnberger’s free-kick.

FC have 12 points after nine games and are next in action on Friday, 25^th October at 18:30 CEST. SC Paderborn are the visitors to the RheinEnergieSTADION.

Line-ups

SV Darmstadt 98 (4-4-2): Schuhen – Lopez (Thiede 77’), Riedel, Vukotic, Nürnberger – Förster (Papela 69’), Klefisch, Müller, Corredor (Marseiler 61’) – Lidberg (Vilhelmsson 77’), Hornby (Lakenmacher 61’).

1. FC Köln (4-1-2-1-2): Urbig – Carstensen (Thielmann 62’), Hübers, Pauli (Heintz 62’), Pacarada – Martel – Huseinbasic (Olesen 68’), Maina – Waldschmidt – Lemperle (Kainz 68’), Downs (Adamyan 76’).

Goals: 1:0, Hornby 11’. 1:1, Lemperle 38’. 2:1, Hornby 40’. 3:1, Lidberg 53’. 4:1, Förster 65’. 5:1, Vukotic 90+4’.

Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück).

Booked: Lidberg (41’), Lemperle (46’), Vilhelmsson (89’), Heintz (90+2’), Hübers (90+3’).

Attendance: 17,810 (sold-out).