Defeat to Magdeburg

1. FC Köln fell to a 2:1 defeat against 1. FC Magdeburg on Saturday evening at the RheinEnergieSTADION. Despite taking the lead through Damion Downs, goals from Falko Michel and Jean Hugonet turned the game on its head.

Team news

Gerhard Struber made just one change to the side that started the win against FC Schalke 04 before the international break. That was the move that was announced at the press conference, as Timo Hübers replaced Dominique Heintz.

Christian Titz opted for three alterations to the side that started the impressive away win against 1. FC Nürnberg. Andi Hoti, Connor Krempicki and Baris Atik came into the side in place of Marcus Mathisen, Abu-Bekir El-Sein and Jason Cheka.

Level at the break

FC were on top from the get-go and were only missing an elusive goal to crown an otherwise brilliant start to the game. Linton Maina and Dejan Ljubicic tried their hand from outside the box, with both being denied by the alert and busy Dominik Reimann inside the first five minutes.

Julian Pauli flicked a Leart Pacarada over the bar at the near post not long after, while Ljubicic’s low effort saw Reimann stick out a boot to save from 12 yards. The best chance came in the 20^th minute, as Pacarada squared for Tim Lemperle. It looked to be a simple tap-in, only for Mohammed El Hankouri to make an incredible, last-ditch block and turn the ball onto the post.

Despite a late flurry of Magdeburg pressure from a series of corners in added time, the game somehow went into the break without a goal to its name. Not for a lack of trying, however.

Magdeburg turn the game around

FC finally got the goal they had been searching for in the 49^th minute. Tim Lemperle found Linton Maina, who unselfishly cut back for Damion Downs to force home from six yards. His second goal in as many games. He almost doubled the lead five minutes later, though Reimann was once more equal to his effort.

However, after that moment, the game turned. Jonas Urbig made a great save to deny Connor Krempicki but was powerless five minutes later. Falko Michel was left free at the back post and was able to nod home from Mohammed El Hankouri’s cross to level the game.

FC pushed in search of another goal but were thwarted multiple times by Reimann and the Magdeburg defence. Then came the hammer blow. Kaars teed up Jean Hugonet, and he sent a screaming 20-yard drive out of Urbig’s reach and into the back of the net.

FC are next in action on Saturday, 21^st September at 13:00 CEST against Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Line-ups

1. FC Köln (4-2-2-2): Urbig – Thielmann (Carstensen 69’), Hübers, Pauli (Tigges 88’), Pacarada – Martel, Huseinbasic – Ljubicic, Maina (Adamyan 77’) – Downs (Waldschmidt 77’), Lemperle.

1. FC Magdeburg (3-4-3): Reimann – Hugonet, Hoti, Heber – Musonda, Gnaka (Michel 46’), Krempicki (El-Zein 64’), El Hankouri – Atik (Nollenberger 46’), Kaars (Müller 90+3’), Amaechi (Burcu 64’).

Goals: 1:0, Downs 49’. 1:1, Michel 66’. 1:2, Hugonet 83’.

Referee: Richard Hempel (Großnaundorf).

Booked: Ljubicic (18’), Hoti (27’), Pacarada (29’), Titz (29’), Martel (58’), Krempicki (60’), Carstensen (81’).

Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).