1. FC Köln drew 1:1 with FC Groningen on Thursday afternoon in Franz-Kremer-Stadion. After a lively first-half, FC enjoyed the lead at the break thanks to Mark Uth’s free-kick. The second period saw the Eredivisie side level through Thijs Oosting with chances few and far between for both teams.
Uth scores on return
FC started well and were creating good openings at regular intervals. Luca Waldschmidt was denied by Hidde Jurjus in the Groningen goal before Elias Bakatukanda bundled a corner wide. Jurjus was then alert to deny Steffen Tigges and Marvin Obuz in quick succession.
The opener finally came in the 28th minute. A free-kick out wide on the right was watched over by Mark Uth and Florian Kainz. The former, back in the side following a long injury lay-off, took aim and whipped the ball beautifully over the helpless Jurjus and into the far top corner.
Oosting levels
After Uth went close on two occasions at the beginning of the second-half, Groningen managed to get level against the run of play. After pinball in the box, the ball dropped kindly for Thijs Oosting to thrash home from 10 yards out in the 52nd minute.
FC continue to control the game thereafter but were unable to find a way through a stubborn and stoic Groningen defence as Gerhard Struber rung the changes during the international break.
Struber and his side are next in action on Friday, 22nd November at 18:30 CET against Preußen Münster.
Line-up
1. FC Köln (3-4-1-2): Schwäbe (Pentke 46’) – Bakatukanda, Hübers, Heintz (Telle 46‘) – Obuz (Sponsel 77’), Ljubicic (Wäschenbach 46‘), Kainz (Strauch 61’), Carstensen (Maina 77’) – Uth (Joao Pinto 55’) – Waldschmidt (Adamyan 55’), Tigges (Dietz 55’).
Goals: 1:0, Uth 28‘. 1:1, Oosting 52’.
Booked: Kainz (33‘), Prins (48‘), Mariani (87’).
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