1. FC Köln fell to a late 3:2 extra-time defeat against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday evening in the DFB-Pokal quarter-final. Damion Downs and Linton Maina had given FC a two-goal lead, before a Patrick Schick double secured Leverkusen a way into extra-time. Victor Boniface then won the game for the hosts in the 98thminute.
Team news
Xabi Alonso opted for five changes following the victory against Hoffenheim three days prior. Matej Kovar, Nordi Mukiele, Exequiel Palacios, Emiliano Buendia and Patrik Schick replaced Lukas Hradecky, Piero Hincapie, Aleix Garcia, Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface.
Gerhard Struber made four changes to the side that started the win against Eintracht Braunschweig at the weekend. Jusuf Gazibegovic, Leart Pacarada, Florian Kainz and Steffen Tigges were replaced by Jan Thielmann, Max Finkgräfe, Denis Huseinbasic and Linton Maina.
Ahead at the break
FC started bravely and had the game’s first real chance after 15 minutes, as Damion Downs fired over from 16 yards out. Leverkusen came into the match more and more after that and were dangerous out wide. Alejandro Grimaldo fired wide from 12 yards after failing to sort his feet out, his free-kick crashed against the crossbar moments later.
As the game drew towards half-time, with 10 minutes added on due to the smoke in the stadium at the start, FC took the lead. A long ball forward allowed Linton Maina to run free. He cut back for Dejan Ljubicic, and he picked out Damion Downs. He hammered home at the near post, leaving Matej Kovar helpless from 10 yards out.
Schick levels late on
The second-half couldn’t have started any better from an FC point of view. Downs picked out the run of Maina and he ran until he could run no more, cutting inside before curling precisely into the far corner past Kovar before wheeling away to the away end.
However, the joy would last just seven minutes. Florian Wirtz managed to battle his way into the box and find Patrick Schick, who managed to slide the ball under the oncoming Marvin Schwäbe to reduce the arrears.
FC had looked to have battled back the worst of the Leverkusen attacks after Marvin Schwäbe brilliantly denied Jonathan Tah at the near post. However, in the sixth of eight very long added minutes, Patrick Schick headed home from Jeremie Frimpong’s cross to level in the 96th minute.
Boniface scores, Rondic ruled out
Extra-time began with FC battling to keep out the Leverkusen attacks. Jusuf Gazibegovic replaced Jan Thielmann early on, although he was powerless to prevent Alejandro Grimaldo’s cross from reaching Victor Boniface and he forced home from close range to give Leverkusen the lead.
FC didn’t give up and, in the 113th minute, thought they had found a just reward. Imad Rondic stole a march on his defender at the near post and flicked past the helpless Kovar. However, a VAR check ruled out the goal. Rondic’s arm was offside.
FC will pick themselves up and go against on Sunday after a performance to be proud of. FC Schalke 04 are the guests in RheinEnergieSTADION with kick-off at 13:30 CET.
Line-ups
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Kovar – Mukiele (Aleix Garcia 86’), Tah, Tapsoba (Hincapie 46’) – Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios (Bonfiace 76’), Grimaldo (Hermoso 100’) – Wirtz, Buendia (Tella 60’) – Schick.
1. FC Köln (3-3-2-2): Schwäbe – Hübers, Schmied, Heintz – Thielmann (Gazibegovic 93’), Martel, Finkgräfe (Pacarada 72’) – Ljubicic, Huseinbasic (Olesen 72’) – Downs (Tigges 65’), Maina (Rondic 80’).
Goals: 0:1, Downs 45+10’. 0:2, Maina 54’. 1:2, Schick 61’. 2:2, Schick 90+6’. 3:2, Boniface 98‘.
Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück).
Booked: Heintz (19’), Hübers (64’), Xhaka (70’), Thielmann (90+5’), Wirtz (104‘), Aleix Garcia (119‘).
Attendance: 30,210 (sold-out).
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