1. FC Köln came back from a goal down to earn a share of the spoils against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday afternoon at the MHP Arena.
Team news
Sebastian Hoeness opted for four alterations after the win against Darmstadt last time out. Josha Vagnoman, Anthony Rouault, Woo-yeong Jeong and Enzo Millot replaced Pascal Stenzel, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Jamie Leweling and Deniz Undav.
Timo Schultz made three changes to the side that started against Werder Bremen last weekend. Rasmus Carstensen, Luca Kilian and Justin Diehl replaced Timo Hübers,
Stalemate after 45 minutes
FC started with promise, with Justin Diehl getting on the ball in the early stages. Jan Thielmann had the game’s first real opening, only to see his low drive well saved by Fabian Bredlow. Stuttgart slowly but surely worked their first opportunities through Jeong, though Marvin Schwäbe was able to save both his snapshots in quick succession.
Sehrou Guirassy almost flicked the hosts ahead against his former club, only to see his header from Jeong’s cross go agonisingly past the far post. Stuttgart continued to look dangerous, with Enzo Millot testing Marvin Schwäbe halfway through the first period. The latter stages produced little in the way of chances for either side, with it level at the break.
Breathless second-half
Despite starting the second-half in similar fashion to the first, it was Stuttgart who took the lead with their first real opening. A quick counter saw Chris Führich get in behind the FC defence and he was able to feed Enzo Millot in the middle. He tapped in from six yards out.
FC managed to find a response 10 minutes later. Thielmann’s initial effort from 20 yards was blocked and fell perfectly for Linton Maina, who managed to stay calm and chipped to the back post. Ready and waiting for Eric Martel, who controlled and fired past the oncoming Bredlow to level the scores.
Stuttgart then had the chance to immediately restore their advantage. Guirassy controlled a Mahmoud Dahoud straight into the path of Millot, who looked certain to grab his second goal of the afternoon until Marvin Schwäbe stuck out a hand to turn his shot away from goal.
The end of the game saw FC stand strong at the back and counter the home side. It could have been a happy ending for the FC fans with Faride Alidou capitalising on an Hiroki Ito slip. He rounded Fabian Bredlow but the angle was too tight to force the ball home. In the end, the game ended all-square.
FC’s next game takes place on Sunday, 3rd March at 15:30 CET. Bundesliga leaders, Bayer Leverkusen are the visitors to the RheinEnergieSTADION.
Line-ups
VfB Stuttgart (4-2-3-1): Bredlow – Vagnoman, Rouault (Mittelstädt 65’), Anton, Ito – Karazor (Dahoud 67‘), Stiller – Jeong (Silas 65’), Millot (Leweling 86’), Führich – Guirassy.
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe – Carstensen, Kilian, Chabot, Finkgräfe – Huseinbasic (Alidou 60’), Martel – Ljubicic, Kainz (Adamyan 72’), Diehl (Maina 60’) – Thielmann (Tigges 90+3’).
Goals: 1:0, Millot 53‘. 1:1, Martel 63’.
Referee: Patrick Ittrich (Hamburg).
Booked: Rouault (43’).
Attendance: 54,500 (sold-out).