1. FC Köln came out on top in an action-packed Rheinderby on Sunday afternoon at the RheinEnergieSTADION. Ísak Jóhannesson opened the scoring in stunning fashion in the 26th minute before Joe Scally levelled just before the break. FC were dominant in the second-half, and got a deserved Derby win thanks to a fine finish from Said El Mala.
Team news
René Wagner made four changes to the side that started the defeat to Hamburger SV before the international break. Alessio Castro Montes, Gideon Mensah, Tom Krauß and Thijs Dallinga were replaced by Sebastian Sebulonsen, Borna Sosa, Ísak Jóhannesson and Marius Bülter.
Alexander Blessin opted for two changes to the side that started Gladbach’s seven-goal thriller against Mainz. Daiki Hashioka and Robin Hack replaced Ko Itakura and Franck Honorat.
Level at the break
The game started slowly, with both sides eyeing each other up in the opening stages. It wasn’t until Kevin Diks‘ effort from the edge of the area, which was punched clear by Marvin Schwäbe, that either goalkeeper had to intervene. FC had their first chances through Sebastian Sebulonsen and Said El Mala, though neither would trouble Moritz Nicolas in the Gladbach goal.
The Gladbach stopper was, however, powerless to prevent FC from going ahead. Borna Sosa’s free-kick was cleared only as far as Ísak Jóhannesson, who produced a stunning, side-footed volley from 20 yards that zipped into the top corner and sent Müngersdorf mad.
FC remained active following the opening goal as Mikey Moore dragged a shot wide from the edge of the area. Despite FC having the more meaningful moments, Gladbach got level before the break. After Schwäbe denied Philipp Sander, Jan Ullrich stood up a cross to the back post where Joe Scally was free to nod into an empty net from close range.
There was more bad news to come as Ellyes Skhiri had to be stretchered off before the end of the first period. After an unfortunate coming together with Florian Neuhaus, the midfielder immediately signalled his discomfort as physios and medical personnel hurried onto the pitch.
Said seals Derby win
Tom Krauß replaced Skhiri during the half-time as the only change on either side. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey had the best chance to get FC back into the lead early in the second-half, though he couldn’t deflect the ball from El Mala’s cross into the back of the net.
In the 67th minute, the breakthrough finally came. Linton Maina played the ball over to Said El Mala, who cut inside from 20 yards out and fired a curling effort into the bottom corner and out of reach of the sprawling Moritz Nicolas. FC had further chances to seal the deal, yet managed to hold on for a deserved Derby win.
FC are next in action on Friday, 16th October in Frankfurt. Kick-off against Eintracht at the Deutsche-Bank-Park is at 20:30 CEST.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe – Sebulonsen, Simpson-Pusey, Lochoshvili (Schmied 79’), Sosa – Jóhannesson, Skhiri (Krauß 46‘) – Bülter, Moore (Rondić 85’), Maina (Waldschmidt 90+2’) – El Mala (Thielmann 79’).
Borussia Mönchengladbach (3-4-2-1): Nicolas – Diks, Leszczynski (Chiarodia 80’), Hashioka (Fleck 80’) – Scally, Neuhaus (Uno 68’), Sander, Ullrich – Hack (Mahoya 64’), Bolin – Lidberg (Machino 64’).
Goals: 1:0, Jóhannesson 26‘. 1:1, Scally 39‘. 2:1, El Mala 67’.
Referee: Florian Badstübner (Nürnberg).
Booked: Bülter (13‘), Leszczynski (24‘), Uno (81’), Machino (90+6’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).
