1. FC Köln fell to a 3:0 defeat against 1. FC Magdeburg on Friday evening at the Avnet Arena. After an even 70 minutes, the hosts struck late on through Daniel Heber, Mohammed El Hankouri and Samuel Loric to secure the three points.
Team news
Christian Titz opted for two alterations after the narrow, dramatic defeat to Nürnberg last weekend. Philipp Hercher and Falko Michel dropped to the bench for Alexander Ahl Holmström and Mohammed El Hankouri.
Gerhard Struber made three changes to the side that started the win against FC Schalke 04 on Sunday. Timo Hübers, Jan Thielmann and Florian Kainz came into the team for Eric Martel, Jusuf Gazibegovic and Denis Huseinbasic.
Level at the break
FC started the game well and with purpose. In the first 15 minutes, Florian Kainz brought a good, low save from Dominik Reimann with a skidding effort from 25 yards. Damion Downs went close before Jan Thielmann’s teasing cross was deflected behind by the brave Magdeburg defence.
Mathias Olesen then had two bites of the cherry to open the scoring in the 20th minute, only for Reimann to get behind both efforts. From there, Magdeburg then managed to get a grip of the game and began to create chances of their own. Mathias Olesen and Dominique Heintz did well to get in the way of Baris Atik and Alexander Ahl Holmström at the key moment.
After Leart Pacarada was forced off due to injury and replaced by Max Finkgräfe, FC settled into the swing of things once more. Despite the pressure, Reimann wasn’t really tested by Struber’s side. Downs’ tantalising cross that raced across the face of goal found no-one in the middle as the sides went into the break level-pegging.
Magdeburg take their chances
The second-half brought little in the way of action in the early stages with a long stoppage in play due to pyrotechnics.
From the 70th minute onwards, Magdeburg were clinical. Baris Atik’s deep free-kick was powerfully headed home by Daniel Heber. Four minutes later, Mohammed El Hankouri ended off a quick counter by firing home from 10 yards. In added time, Samuel Loric produced a superb volley that flew into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
FC remain top of the table despite the defeat on Friday evening, although the win for Magdeburg draws the pack surrounding the promotion places closer together. FC are next in action on Sunday 23rd February against Fortuna Düsseldorf. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION is at 13:30 CET.
Line-ups
1. FC Magdeburg (3-1-2-1-3): Reimann – Hugonet, Mathisen, Heber – Gnaka – El Hankouri (Michel 88’), Nollenberger (Loric 78’) – Kaars – Burcu (El-Zein 88’), Ahl Holmström (Hercher 57‘), Atik (Teixeira 88’).
1. FC Köln (3-3-2-2): Schwäbe – Hübers, Schmied (Rondic 77‘), Heintz – Thielmann (Gazibegovic 67‘), Olesen, Pacarada (Finkgräfe 30‘) – Ljubicic, Kainz (Waldschmidt 67‘) – Downs, Maina.
Goals: 1:0, Heber 73’. 2:0, El Hankouri 79‘. 3:0, Loric 90+2‘.
Referee: Dr. Florian Exner (Münster).
Booked: Thielmann (41’), Finkgräfe (72’).
Attendance: 27,055 (sold-out).