2:0 at the break
FC began the game with purpose and scored twice within the opening six minutes. After Rasmus Carstensen was initially denied by Luca Wilsing, the Dane turned provider for the opening two goals. He produced two crosses of quality, the first powered home by Steffen Tigges’ towering header and the second which Faride Alidou managed to push over the line.
Downs with a brace
The second-half saw Steffen Baumgart make six changes, three of which marked their minutes on the pitch with goals. Damion Downs poked home from close range after Carstensen’s shot was saved before Joao Pinto produced a fine finish when one-on-one with Luis Altmayer in the Bergisch Gladbach goal.
Meiko Wäschenbach followed that up four minutes later with a 25-yard free-kick that slipped inside the near post. Downs then crowed his substitute appearance with a second goal, slotting in off the post from Julian Pauli’s low cross. FC are next in action on Saturday, 16th September against TSG Hoffenheim. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION is at 15:30 CEST.
Line-up
1. FC Köln (4-1-3-2): Pentke (Köbbing 46‘) – Carstensen (Pauli 68’), Kilian, Heintz, Finkgräfe – Huseinbasic – Maina (Wäschenbach 57’), Christensen, Alidou (Nadjombe 68’) – Tigges (Joao Pinto 57’), Waldschmidt (Downs 46‘).
Goals: 0:1, Tigges 3‘. 0:2, Alidou 6‘. 0:3, Downs 58’. 0:4, Joao Pinto 62’. 0:5, Wäschenbach 67’. 0:6, Downs 72’.
Referee: Nico Fuchs.
Attendance: 4,200.