1. FC Köln secured a 4:1 win against Hamburger SV on Sunday evening at the RheinEnergieSTADION. Ragnar Ache opened the scoring before Florian Kainz’s free-kick added a second. A dramatic second-half followed, with Jean-Luc Dompe reducing the deficit before HSV were awarded two red cards in four minutes. FC took advantage as Said El Mala and Jakub Kamiński put the game to bed.
Team news
Lukas Kwasniok made five changes to the side that started against FC Bayern München on Wednesday evening. Marvin Schwäbe, Cenk, Denis Huseinbašić, Florian Kainz and Linton Maina replaced Ron-Robert Zieler, Sebastian Sebulonsen, Tom Krauß, Marius Bülter and Said El Mala.
Merlin Polzin opted for four alterations from the team that progressed against 1. FC Heidenheim in the DFB-Pokal. Daniel Peretz, Jordan Torunarigha, Giorgi Gocholeishvili and Alexander Rössing-Lelesiit dropped out for Daniel Heuer Fernandes, William Mikelbrencis, Abert Sambi Lokonga and Jean-Luc Dompé.
Ahead at the break
The game began slowly, with both sides figuring one another out. The first chance of the game fell the way of the busy Florian Kainz, with his volley sliding off target. It was Kainz who played an important role in the opening goal. As Albert Sambi Lokonga slipped and lost the ball, the Austrian international was denied by Daniel Heuer Fernandes after going through on goal. Linton Maina was also denied, though Ragnar Ache was on hand to convert from close range for his second in as many games.
HSV came on strong after the goal. Jean-Luc Dompe continued to cause problems and forced a good save from Marvin Schwäbe after a darting run into the box. That was just after Fabio Vieira got on the end of a Dompe cross, though his goal-bound effort was deflected away from the target by Ransford Königsdörffer.
Jam-packed second-half
The second-half started with Hamburg on the front foot and a great opportunity for Lokonga, though he met his match in Marvin Schwäbe. The visitors’ early momentum took a hit in the 48th minute. After a foul on the edge of the area, Florian Kainz celebrated his return to the starting line-up with a stunning free-kick that left Daniel Heuer Fernandes with no chance.
Then, the controversy came. After Fabio Vieira thought he had levelled the scores, his goal was chalked off after a six-minute VAR check. After a check for two fouls and an offside, Daniel Schlager eventually pulled the goal back for a foul on Eric Martel from Rayan Philippe.
The relief was only momentary, however. Dompe came inside from the left, and his cross grew longer and longer before falling into the back of the net after evading everyone in the middle, giving HSV hope after a difficult start despite their promise.
As the rain teamed down in Müngersdorf, so did the yellow cards. Both Immanuel Pherai and Fabio Vieira were sent off, having collected their bookings inside the space of just nine minutes. From that point on, FC took control and looked to calm a chaotic second period down.
With all the commotion, it was hardly surprising as 12 minutes were added on. In the fourth of those 12, FC finally put the game to bed. Jakub Kamiński was set free down the right and drove towards the Hamburg box. He put in a perfect cross for Said El Mala to finish from close range and grab his fourth goal of the season.
Five minutes later, roles were reversed. This time it was El Mala who burst in the Hamburg penalty area, sliding the ball back to the penalty spot where Kamiński thundered home. Coincidentally, also his fourth goal of the campaign.
FC are next in action on Saturday 9th November against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Rheinderby kicks off at 18:30 CET in Borussia-Park. It is the final game before the international break.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (3-4-2-1): Schwäbe – Schmied (Sebulonsen 46’), Martel, Cenk – Kamiński, Jóhannesson (Krauß 67’), Huseinbašić, Lund – Kainz (Heintz 67’) – Ache (Bülter 72’), Maina (El Mala 67’).
Hamburger SV (3-4-3): Heuer Fernandes – Mikelbrencis (Gocholeishvili 77’), Vuskovic, Elfadli – Fabio Vieira, Lokonga (Glatzel 90’), Remberg, Muheim – Philippe (Pherai 77’), Königsdörffer (Poulsen 59’), Dompe (Røssing-Lelesiit 90’).
Goals: 1:0, Ache 24’. 2:0, Kainz 48’. 2:1, Dompe 61’. 3:1, El Mala 90+4’. 4:1, Kamiński 90+9’.
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Gernsbach).
Booked: Remberg (10’), Bülter (78’).
Sent-off: Pherai (79’), Fabio Vieira (83’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).