1. FC Köln fell to a 2:1 defeat to Hamburger SV on the opening day of the 2024-25 2. Bundesliga season. Ransdorf Königsdörffer grabbed a first-half brace, with Linton Maina’s header not enough to spark a late comeback.
Team news
Gerhard Struber opted for the tried and trusted side that went through the majority of pre-season. Jonas Urbig and Julian Pauli made their first competitive appearance in red and white.
Steffen Baumgart made his return to Köln for the first time since his exit and started with Davie Selke and Noah Katterbach on the bench. There were places for summer signings, Daniel Elfadli and Adam Karabec in the starting line-up, however.
Behind at the break
FC started well and had two great chances to take the lead in the first three minutes. Dejan Ljubicic fired over from 12 yards after good work from Tim Lemperle. Moments later, the Austrian international was denied by a strong block before an even better save from Daniel Heuer Fernandes kept out Denis Huseinbasic’s effort.
Despite the strong start, it was HSV who went in front. Jean-Luc Dompé’s dipping drive was too hot to handle for Jonas Urbig, and Ransford Königsdörffer was on hand to tap-in from close range after an action-packed six minutes.
After that, the game calmed down somewhat. HSV tested Urbig twice through the dangerous Dompé, but he was up to the task to make smart saves on both occasions. Lemperle continued to look dangerous, beating Bakery Jatta and Dennis Hadzikadunic on the touchline, only to see Huseinbasic curl over the crossbar.
With FC controlling the game, it was HSV who took their chance. A cross from the left from Adam Karabec was headed goalwards by Königsdörffer. His header was spectacularly saved by Urbig, only for the striker to fire in the rebound in the 35th minute.
Just before the break, FC had the perfect chance to reduce the deficit. A quick counter saw Denis Huseinbasic thread through Lemperle, only for the forward to be denied by Daniel Heuer Fernandes six yards from goal.
Maina’s header not enough
FC started the second-half with purpose. Dejan Ljubicic’s effort in front of goal was blocked, just two minutes later Damion Downs faced the same problem. Thielmann continued to cause problems, though Huseinbasic was unable to direct his header with power at goal.
Struber’s side finally got on the scoresheet in the 79th minute. A wonderful cross from Ljubicic was met by Linton Maina, who powered home a header from six yards out. Unfortunately for FC, Maina’s attempt to turn provider saw Florian Dietz just miss out on connecting with a cross to the back post.
FC are next in action on Saturday, 3rd August at 13:00 CEST as they take on SV Elversberg at the Ursapharm-Arena an der Kaiserlinde.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-3-1-2): Urbig – Thielmann, Hübers, Pauli (Heintz 87’), Pacarada – Ljubicic, Martel, Huseinbasic (Obuz 87’) – Waldschmidt (Adamyan 57’) – Lemperle (Dietz 76’), Downs (Maina 57’).
Hamburger SV (3-4-2-1): Heuer Fernandes – Hadzikadunic, Schonlau, Muheim – Jatta (Mikelbrencis 90+1’), Elfadli, Meffert, Dompé (Baldé 65‘) – Karabec (Öztunali 65’), Reis (Heyer 83’) – Königsdörffer (Selke 90+1’).
Goals: 0:1, Königsdörffer 6‘. 0:2, Königsdörffer 35‘. 1:2, Maina 79‘.
Referee: Dr. Max Burda (Berlin).
Booked: Lemperle (39’), Baumgart (45+3’), Pauli (69’), Königsdörffer (86‘).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).
