1. FC Köln secured all three points against FC Schalke 04 with an impressive 3:1 win and team performance on Sunday afternoon at the VELTINS-Arena. Damion Downs, Linton Maina and Tim Lemperle were on the scoresheet, with Kenan Karaman’s penalty a consolation for the hosts.
Team news
Gerhard Stuber made one change to the side that started the win against Eintracht Braunschweig. Dominique Heintz replaced Timo Hübers, with the FC captain missing out through illness.
Karel Geraerts opted for two alterations after the draw in Magdeburg last time out. Ron Schallenberg and Adrian Gantenbein replaced Felipe Sanchez and Mehmet Aydin.
Ahead at the break
The opening 15 minutes in Gelsenkirchen produced chances for both sides. Jonas Urbig was immediately tested by Tobias Mohr, who also has Urbig scurrying backwards after shooting from his own half. FC had perhaps the best opening, though Damion Downs’ effort was kept out one-on-one by Justin Heekeren in the Schalke goal.
After Eric Martel headed straight at Heekeren from Linton Maina’s back post cross, FC finally got the goal their play deserved. A mistake at the back from Schalke allowed Dejan Ljubicic to tee up Downs, and he slammed home from 16 yards to send the 6,000 travelling fans wild.
Schalke went close again through Mohr but it was out of an attack from the hosts which provided FC a second goal. FC went corner flag to corner flag in a matter of seconds, with Jan Thielmann and Eric Martel managing to carve up the defence. Damion Downs squared for Linton Maina, who managed to force home to double the lead.
Lemperle strikes straight after the restart
At half-time, Schalke brought on Christopher Antwi-Adjei for Ilyes Hamache. Any hopes of a quick change in fortune for the hosts were quashed after just 34 seconds. FC worked the ball from one side of the box to the other, with Leart Pacarada’s cross finding a way to Tim Lemperle at the back post to score for the second game in a row.
FC were well in control of the game but Schalke managed to find a way back into the match. Amin Younes was fouled by Denis Huseinbasic, leaving Sven Jablonski no choice but to point to the spot. Kenan Karaman stepped up and sent Jonas Urbig the wrong way, giving the home side a glimmer of hope.
That hope looked to have taken on another level of belief in the 76th minute, as Tobias Mohr forced home on the counter. However, VAR stepped in to rule the goal out for offside in the build-up. The remainder of the game produced little of note, as FC calmly played the game to an end with Elias Bakatukanda making his debut.
FC celebrated a second win in a row and moved up to sixth in the 2. Bundesliga. Struber’s side are next in action after the international break at home to 1. FC Magdeburg. The game takes place on 14th September, 20:30 CEST at the RheinEnergieSTADION.
Line-ups
FC Schalke 04 (4-2-3-1): Heekeren – Gantenbein (Aydin 58’), Cissé, Schallenberg, Murkin – Bachmann, Seguin (Younes 58’) – Hamache (Antwi-Adjei 46’), Karaman, Mohr (donkor 85’) – Sylla.
1. FC Köln (4-2-2-2): Urbig – Thielmann, Pauli, Heintz (Bakatukanda 71’), Pacarada – Martel, Ljubicic – Huseinbasic, Maina – Downs (Waldschmidt 90’), Lemperle (Tigges 82’).
Goals: 0:1, Downs 25’. 0:2, Maina 45+1’. 0:3, Lemperle 46’. 1:3, Karaman (PEN) 66’.
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen).
Booked: Pauli (53’), Martel (57’), Cissé (67’), Bakatukanda (78’), Thielmann (84’), Aydin (90+3’).
Attendance: 61,624 (sold-out).
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