1. FC Köln won 9:1 against ETB Schwarz-Weiß Essen on Wednesday evening. The international break friendly was part of the hosts’ 125-year anniversary. Luca Waldschmidt scored five, with Denis Huseinbašić, Ragnar Ache (2) and Jan Thielmann also on the scoresheet.
Five goals in the first-half
FC were in full control from the very start, apart from one counter-attack from ETB. However, Lukas Korytowski failed to find the back of the net after rounding Ron-Robert Zieler. From there on, FC held their grip on proceedings and didn’t let up.
Luca Waldschmidt grabbed FC’s first goal of the game after Alessio Castro-Montes squared across the box. Waldschmidt added a second eight minutes later. Again, the forward finished into an open goal. This time, it was Ragnar Ache who turned provider.
The third followed two minutes later with Denis Huseinbašić taking aim and finishing with aid of the post from 20 yards. Luca Waldschmidt completed his hat-trick with an equally impressive finish on the angle soon after. Ragnar Ache completed the scoring in the 45th minute, tapping in from Waldschmidt’s cutback.
Thielmann on target
The second-half began similar to the first after the hosts changed around their team. That freshness helped them grab an early consolation goal, as Rotosson Kanu turned home a cross from six yards out.
After Luca Waldschmidt’s penalty was saved by Mohamed Abou Khamis, FC went in search of another goal. Jan Thielmann managed to thump the ball into the pitch and over Abou Khamis’ despairing dive in the 70thminute. A seventh goal arrived less than 60 seconds later thanks to a fine finish from Ragnar Ache.
Waldschmidt managed to find his fourth and FC’s eighth in the 80th minute, capping off a fine move with an equally adept finish after running through on goal. He added a ninth in the final minute. FC are next in action on Saturday 13th September against VfL Wolfsburg. Kick-off at the Volkswagen Arena is at 15:30 CEST.
Line-up
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Zieler – Castro-Montes, Schmied, Cenk, Lund (Sebulonsen 63’) – Huseinbašić, Krauß (Martel 63’) – Waldschmidt, Kainz, Maina (Thielmann 63’) – Ache.
Goals: 0:1, Waldschmidt 22’. 0:2, Waldschmidt 30’. 0:3, Huseinbašić 32’. 0:4, Waldschmidt 42’. 0:5, Ache 45’. 1:5, Kanu 54’. 1:6, Thielmann 70’. 1:7, Ache 71’. 1:8, Waldschmidt 80’. 1:9, Waldschmidt 89’.
Referee: Jonas Besong (Duisburg).
Attendance: 1,264.