1. FC Köln fell to a 2:1 defeat against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening at the RheinEnergieSTADION. Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier scored for the visitors. Despite being down a man, FC pushed for a late double salvo. It would remain at just one goal from Jakub Kamiński, however.
Team news
Lukas Kwasniok made three changes to the side that started against Augsburg last weekend. Cenk, Luca Waldschmidt and Marius Bülter were replaced by Ísak Jóhannesson, Said El Mala and Youssoupha Niang.
Niko Kovac opted for four alterations following the close defeat to FC Bayern München. Emre Can, Yan Couto, Karim Adeyemi and Fabio Silva dropped out for Ramy Bensebaini, Julian Ryerson, Julian Brandt and Serhou Guirassy.
Behind at the break
FC started the game well and put Dortmund under pressure from the get-go. The first minute provided an early chance for Ísak Jóhannesson, yet his effort was blocked in front of goal by the visiting defence. Moments later, Youssoupha Niang rose highest to head toward Gregor Kobel, with the Swiss stopper reaching high to make a good save.
In the 16th minute, Serhou Guirassy gave the visitors the lead after a corner was only half-cleared. The ball was headed back in by Maximilian Beier, with Guirassy sliding past Marvin Schwäbe completely free in front of goal.
Lukas Kwasniok’s side didn’t let their heads drop and went close through Said El Mala following Jakub Kamiński’s delivery. Aside from Schwäbe’s save from Guirassy late in the first-half, there was little to mention in the closing stages. That was until a VAR turned a Jahmai Simpson-Pusey yellow card to red for a foul on Maximilian Beier.
Kamiński scores late on
Cenk replaced Ísak Jóhannesson at the break to restore order to the back four. FC had the best opening in the early knockings, as Kamiński’s curler was brilliantly saved by Kobel. Niang attempted to force the rebound home, yet Daniel Svensson was in the way. On the hour mark, Dortmund had their second. After a clever pass-and-move, it was Maximilian Beier who finished one-on-one with Schwäbe.
Despite the man and two-goal advantage, Dortmund chances were few and far between. A chance to convert from the penalty spot was overturned after Cenk’s adjudged foul on Fabio Silva was reversed.
Nevertheless, the team didn’t give up and got on the scoresheet late on through Jakub Kamiński’s deflected strike. FC threw everything at Dortmund in added time and had a late penalty shout waved away but couldn’t force a way through for a leveller.
FC are next in action on Saturday, 14th March at 18:30 CET. Kwasniok’s side make the trip to Hamburg to take on HSV.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe – Krauß (Neumann 87‘), van den Berg, Simpson-Pusey, Lund – Jóhannesson (Cenk 46‘), Martel – Niang (Maina 75‘), Kamiński, El Mala (Heintz 87‘) – Ache (Bülter 87‘).
Borussia Dortmund (3-4-2-1): Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Ryerson (Couto 61‘), Nmecha (Bellingham 90+1‘), Sabitzer, Svensson – Beier, Brandt – Guirassy (Fabio Silva 61‘).
Goals: 0:1, Guirassy 16‘. 0:2, Beier 60‘. 1:2, Kamiński 88‘.
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin).
Booked: Bensebaini (45+5‘), Martel (86‘).
Sent-off: Simpson-Pusey (45+2‘).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).