1. FC Köln and Karlsruher SC shared eight goals at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Sunday afternoon. After leading 3:0 and 4:2, the visitors battled back to earn a point through a Marvin Wanitzek hat-trick.
Team news
Gerhard Struber named the same starting side that began the game against Düsseldorf last weekend.
Christian Eichner made one change to the team that drew in Magdeburg a week prior. Christopher Kobald replaced the injured Marcel Franke.
Goals galore in the first-half
FC got off to the perfect start and led 3:0 after just 15 minutes. Luca Waldschmidt ran onto a Leart Pacarada throw-in and powered into the roof of the net at the near post after just three minutes. Damion Downs doubled the advantage four minutes later, running onto a long ball from Pacarada and firing through the legs of Max Weiß.
After Jonas Urbig and some brave defending prevented Karlsruhe from finding a quick response, Downs grabbed his third. Pacarada poked the ball to the forward and he took aim from the edge of the box and curled beautifully into the bottom corner.
However, just four minutes after Downs’ second, Karlsruhe hit back. Marvin Wanitzek fired home after pinball in the box to reduce the deficit. Eight minutes later, Wanitzek struck again. This time, curling home a similar shot to Downs’ and finding the far corner of Jonas Urbig’s net.
The game went back and forth but FC managed to grab a fourth before the break. Leart Pacarada managed to register his fourth assist of the first-half, firing a low cross towards the near post where Tim Lemperle stole a march on his defender to make it 4:2 at half-time.
Karlsruhe equalise early in the second-half
After the break, Karlsruhe pressed early and got their reward. Leon Jensen headed home at the near post from a Wanitzek corner. He then turned from provider to scorer, fizzing in a low cross that managed to find a way into the bottom corner.
The remainder of the game produced little in the way of chances. FC did their best to fashion a way forward with Karlsruhe largely happy to sit back and counter. FC are next in action on Saturday, 5th October at the RheinEnergieSTADION. SSV Ulm are the guests with kick-off at 13:00 CEST.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Urbig – Thielmann (Carstensen 56’), Hübers, Pauli, Pacarada – Martel, Huseinbasic – Lemperle (Tigges 75’), Waldschmidt (Potocnik 75’), Maina – Downs (Obuz 63’).
Karlsruher SC (4-4-2): Weiß – Jung, Kobald, Beifus, Günther (Herold 71’) – Burnic, Rapp, Jensen (Heußer 86’), Wanitzek – Zivzivadze (Pfeiffer 79’), Schleusener (Hunziker 86’).
Goals: 1:0, Waldschmidt 3’. 2:0, Downs 7’. 3:0, Downs 15’. 3:1, Wanitzek 19’. 3:2, Wanitzek 27’. 4:2, Lemperle 45+2’. 4:3, Jensen 53’. 4:4, Wanitzek 55’.
Referee: Benjamin Brand (Schwebheim).
Booked: Burnic (6’), Wanitzek (45+4’), Günther (62’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).
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