1. FC Köln secured a vital win against VfL Bochum on Saturday afternoon at the RheinEnergieSTADION. Felix Passlack’s goal looked to have given the visitors all three points before a late double salvo from Steffen Tigges and Luca Waldschmidt turned the game on its head.
Team news
Timo Schultz opted for three alterations following the draw against Augsburg last weekend. Leart Pacarada, Faride Alidou and Denis Huseinbasic dropped to the bench in place of Max Finkgräfe, Linton Maina and Eric Martel.
Thomas Letsch made two changes to the side that drew against Darmstadt on Sunday. Matus Bero and Moritz Broschinski came into the side to replace Takuma Asano and Christopher Antwei-Adjei.
Level at the break
FC began the game well and with real promise in the first 20 minutes. Bochum were unable to test Marvin Schwäbe in the early stages, while Linton Maina drew an early save from Manuel Riemann on the angle. Sargis Adamyan, who was causing real problems for the Bochum backline, headed over as the pressure continued to build.
Bochum began to find a way into the game and were dangerous from set-pieces. Anthony Losilla drove a volley just wide from 18 yards, while Erhan Masovic nodded over from a corner. The best chance of the half fell at the death and for FC, however. Eric Martel’s effort from the edge of the area was diverted around the upright by Bernardo.
Drama at the death
There were no changes for either side at the break but, after eight minutes, a change in the scoreline promptly followed. Kevin Stöger played in Moritz Broschinski and his cross found Felix Passlack at the back post. His deflected effort from eight yards left all helpless as the wheeled away to celebrate in front of the travelling support.
Linton Maina went close, Faride Alidou hit the post as FC’s pressure continued to build. Then came the 90 seconds of madness the FC faithful had waited for. Florian Kainz’s corner was met by Steffen Tigges at the near post and brilliantly headed home to restore parity.
The stadium was bouncing and was sent into raptures moments later. Benno Schmitz was given time and space to cross and picked out Luca Waldschmidt, who produced a header of similar quality to find the back of the net and secure a massive three points.
The win means that FC are still alive in the battle against relegation. Timo Schultz’s side remain a point behind Mainz but are now just four behind VfL Bochum in 15th. The next game sees FC travel to
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-4-2): Schwäbe – Thielmann (Schmitz 84‘), Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe – Maina (Alidou 63‘), Martel (Huseinbasic 63‘), Ljubicic, Kainz – Adamyan (Tigges 84‘), Selke (Waldschmidt 68‘).
VfL Bochum (4-4-2): Riemann – Passlack (Gamboa 86‘), Masovic, Schlotterbeck, Bernardo – Bero (Antwei-Adjei 86‘), Losilla, Osterhage, Stöger (Wittek 77‘) – Hofmann (Ordets 77‘), Broschinski (Asano 66‘).
Goals: 0:1, Passlack 53’. 1:1, Tigges 90‘. 2:1, Waldschmidt 90+2’.
Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden).
Booked: Martel (25’), Broschinski (35’), Selke (37’), McKenna (45’), Asano (68’), Thielmann (71’), Losilla (89’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).
