1. FC Köln are into the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal thanks to a late win against Hertha BSC. Dejan Ljubicic converted from the spot in the 121st minute. A Florian Niederlechner own-goal restored parity after Ibrahim Maza’s early spot-kick.
Team news
Gerhard Struber made two changes to the side that started against Hannover last time out. Leart Pacarada and Luca Waldschmidt dropped to the bench in place of Max Finkgräfe and Jan Thielmann.
Cristian Fiél, on the other hand, opted for an unchanged line-up from their 3:1 win in Magdeburg a week prior.
First-half full of action
The first-half in Müngersdorf started with intent and both sides went at it from the very first minute. Tim Lemperle and Denis Huseinbasic went close in the first 120 seconds before Hertha shocked the home faithful. Julian Pauli brought down Derry Scherhant in the box and Ibrahim Maza sent Marvin Schwäbe the wrong way from 12 yards to give the visitors the lead after 12 minutes.
FC continued to cause Hertha problems without truly testing Tjark Ernst in the opposition goal. However, Struber’s side were buoyed by Deyavaisio Zeefuik’s sending-off after a headbutt on Timo Hübers.
Just four minutes later, FC were indeed level. A corner pinballed in the box before the ball deflected off Dominique Heintz and then, decisively, Florian Niederlechner into the back of the net.
FC failed to make the most of promising counter opportunities late in the half. Max Finkgräfe came closest to a second goal, with his swerving shot from 18 yards clipping the crossbar on the way over the bar.
Ljubicic from the spot
The second-half saw FC enjoy over 70% possession with little in the way of breaking through the stubborn Hertha defence. As the second 45 minutes flew by, the game edged into extra time. There, FC pushed forward in search of a winner.
In the 118th minute, Florian Kainz was fouled in the box by Gustav Christensen. After a VAR check, Dejan Ljubicic was tasked with taking FC into the next round. He sent Ernst the wrong way and secured a passage into the last eight.
FC are into the quarter-finals for the first time in 15 years thanks to the late win. Before the draw on 15thDecember, FC are in action against Jahn Regensburg this Sunday. Kick-off at the Jahnstadion is at 13:30 CET.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (3-4-1-2): Schwäbe – Pauli (Olesen 17’), Hübers, Heintz (Downs 95’) – Thielmann (Kainz 80’), Huseinbasic (Waldschmidt 64’), Martel, Finkgräfe (Pacarada 64’) – Ljubicic – Maina, Lemperle.
Hertha BSC (4-3-3): Ernst – Kenny, Dárdai (Bouchalakis 91‘), Leistner, Zeefuik – Sessa (Demme 29‘), Klemens, Maza (Thorsteinsson 86‘) – Cuisance (Christensen 91‘), Niederlechner (Reese 72‘), Scherhant.
Goals: 0:1, Maza (PEN) 12‘. 1:1, Niederlecher OG 30‘. 2:1, Ljubicic (PEN) 120+1‘.
Referee: Tobias Reichel (Sindelfingen).
Booked: Hübers (26’), Heintz (28’), Lemperle (60’), Demme (69’), Bouchalakis (120+1’), Ljubicic (120+2’).
Sent-off: Zeefuik (26’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).
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