1. FC Köln drew with SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Friday evening at the Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer. Luca Waldschmidt’s penalty cancelled out Noel Futkeu’s opener. After an eventful second-half, FC were left to rue missed chances as the game ended all-square.
Team news
Jan Siewert opted for three alterations from the team that started the defeat to Darmstadt. Simon Asta, Jomaine Consbruch and Dennis Srbeny dropped out in place of Roberto Massimo, Julian Green and Branimir Hrgota.
Gerhard Struber made just one change to the side that were beaten by Hertha BSC last weekend. Florian Kainz came into midfield in place of Mathias Olesen.
Shortly before kick-off, Gerhard Struber was forced into another change. Julian Pauli came into the line-up for Dominique Heintz, who was unable to complete the warm-up due to back problems.
Level at the break
FC started the game brightly without Heintz and had the first openings of the encounter. Tim Lemperle flicked narrowly past the post before Jan Thielmann’s follow-up was blocked. Moments later, it was Lemperle who crossed for Imad Rondić to shoot. His volley edged over the bar from 12 yards.
It seemed like Struber’s side were in control but fell behind in the 12th minute with Fürth’s first attack. Massimo managed to find a way past Florian Kainz on the right and cross for Noel Futkeu, who crashed the ball into the back of the net off the underside of the bar from close range.
FC found it hard going to create a chance of real note after the opening period of pressure. Despite the sluggish first-half, a moment of drive and power paved the way to the leveller. Julian Pauli battled his way through after a one-two with Florian Kainz before being fouled by in the box. Luca Waldschmidt sent Nahuel Noll the wrong way in the 45th minute to restore parity.
No goals in the second-half
The game continued in it’s open nature into the second period. Dejan Ljubičić and Damion Downs were brought on at half-time, with Florian Kainz and Imad Rondić making way. Fürth had the first real chance of the second-half as Futkeu failed to connect properly with a Julian Green cross. Tim Lemperle then had the chance to square to Downs in the middle but instead shot just wide of the far post.
Mark Uth came on in the 61st minute and, less than 60 seconds later, was denied by a stunning Nahuel Noll save from point-blank range. Marvin Schwäbe wouldn’t be topped, saving from Futkeu, Consbruch and Srbeny in similar fashion.
The biggest talking point took place in the 84th minute after Damion Downs hit the post from a Mathias Olesen cross. The entire FC bench and all on the pitch were up in arms after a penalty wasn’t awarded. Despite the replays showing a clear foul, Patrick Alt wasn’t sent to the monitor to review his decision.
FC stay second and are a point behind Hamburger SV after their 4:2 defeat to Eintracht Braunschweig. Struber’s side are next in action on Sunday, 20th April against Preußen Münster. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Easter Sunday is at 13:30 CEST.
Line-ups
SpVgg Greuther Fürth (3-4-2-1): Noll – Loosli (Jung 79’), Quarshie, Itter – Massimo (Meyerhöfer 87’), Green, Dietz, John – Klaus (Srbeny 87’), Futkeu (Consbruch 69’) – Hrgota.
1. FC Köln (3-4-1-2): Schwäbe – Schmied, Martel, Pauli (Olesen 69’) – Thielmann, Kainz (Ljubičić 46’), Huseinbašić, Paçarada – Waldschmidt (Uth 62’) – Rondić (Downs 46’), Lemperle.
Goals: 1:0, Futkeu 12‘. 1:1, Waldschmidt PEN 45’.
Referee: Patrick Alt (Illingen).
Booked: Schmied (13‘), Kainz (38’), Lemperle (56’), Huseinbašić (70’), Uth (71’), Ljubičić (82’), Dietz (89’).
Attendance: 15,294.