Timo Schultz’s first game in charge of 1. FC Köln ended in a draw. Davie Selke had given FC the lead before Adrian Beck levelled for Heidenheim in the second-half.
Team news
Timo Schultz made two changes to the last competitive FC line-up from before Christmas against 1. FC Union Berlin. Jeff Chabot and Florian Kainz came into the side for Dominique Heintz and Mark Uth.
Frank Schmidt also opted for two alterations from the win against SC Freiburg before the Winter Break. Jan Schöppner and Adrian Beck dropped out for Norman Theuerkauf and Jan-Niklas Beste.
Ahead at the break
The opening 20 minutes saw both sides trade blows at a distance, with neither able to make much headway going forward. It wasn’t until Denis Huseinbasic’s superb curling effort brought an equally good save from Kevin Müller that the game sprung into life. The resulting corner saw Davie Selke head narrowly wide from Florian Kainz’s delivery.
Not long after, Selke had the ball in the back of the net. He somehow managed to bring Kainz’s cross under control and then swivelled to pick out the bottom corner on the turn. His fifth goal of the season. Heidenheim upped the pressure from there, with Norman Theuerkauf drawing an amazing stop from Marvin Schwäbe with a close-range volley.
Beck draws Heidenheim level
Straight after the restart, Linton Maina had a great chance to double FC’s advantage. The winger raced through on goal but was unable to find a way past Müller in the Heidenheim goal. Tim Kleindienst then missed a massive chance to level from a Rasmus Carstensen clearance, only for Adrian Beck’s half volley to fly past Schwäbe after 55 minutes.
Both teams traded efforts late in the game. Eren Dincki curled wide from 25 yards, with Kleindienst heading wide from close range after Jan-Niklas Beste’s free-kick took a deflection. Jan Thielmann almost won the game late on, however. His strong shot slipped through Müller’s hands, only to clip the post and fall in the grateful stopper’s hands.
FC are next in action on Saturday 20th January. Borussia Dortmund are the visitors to the RheinEnergieSTADION, with kick-off at 15:30 CET.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-4-2): Schwäbe – Carstensen, Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe – Thielmann, Martel, Huseinbasic, Maina (Alidou 71‘) – Kainz (Diehl 60‘), Selke (Tigges 71‘).
1. FC Heidenheim (4-4-2): Müller, Busch, Mainka, Gimber, Föhrenbach – Dinkci (Dovedan 83‘), Maloney, Theuerkauf (Beck 46‘), Beste (Pick 90+1‘) – Pieringer (Sessa 46‘), Kleindienst (Schimmer 90+3‘).
Goals: 1:0, Selke 29‘. 1:1, Beck 55’.
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin).
Booked: Chabot (12’), Pieringer (17’), Hübers (41’), Pentke (89’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).