Vital win in Cottbus

On match day 25 of the season, 1. FC Köln beat FC Energie Cottbus 2-0 (0-0). In a tight game, in front of a crowd of 15,650 at the 'Stadion der Freundschaft', Milivoje Novakovic (51' / 56' pen) struck twice to seal the points for FC.

Two changes

Compared to the side that began in last weekend's game, Köln coach Christoph Daum made two changes to his starting line-up with Nemanja Vucicevic and Wilfried Sanou being replaced by Kevin McKenna and Sergiu Radu.

FC began the game somewhat more defensively than usual and patiently awaited their chances to his on the break - which failed to develop in the opening period. Openings were rare at either end, in what was a more tactical battle in the first 45 minutes. It took until almost the half hour mark before FCE keeper Gerhard Tremmel was tested with a shot from Marvin Matip. Matip then combined with Faryd Mondragon in the 35th minute to deny a header and a follow up shot from Jula, with the result that the teams went into the break locked at 0-0.

'Nova' does it on the double

The second half began for FC with a double whammy. In the 51st minute, Petit tried his luck with a shot from distance, which Tremmel spilled and Novakovic reacted quickest to get a toe to the loose ball and poke past the stranded keeper to make it 1-0. And just five minutes later the visitors doubled their lead. Novakovic was tugged to the ground in the area by Atan Cagdas and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. 'Nova' took on the responsibility himself and placed his shot home to give FC a 2-0 lead.

Energie Cottbus threw everything into attack in search of a way back into the game, and had chances through Timo Rost (60') and Dimitar Rangelov (75'), but there was to be no way back for the home side and FC could make the journey back to Cologne with all three points in the bag.


The team line-ups:

Energie Cottbus: Tremmel - Pavicevic, Cvitanovic, Cagdas, Ziebig - Rost, Angelov (77' Rajnoch) - Jula, Skela, Iliev (61' Rivic) - Rangelov

1. FC Köln: Mondragon - Brecko, Mohamad, Geromel, Matip - McKenna - Petit, Pezzoni (82' Yalcin) - Radu (79' Brosinski), Novakovic, Ehret (77' Boateng)

Goals: 0-1 Novakovic (51'), Novakovic (56', pen)

Attendance: 15,650

Referee: Dr. Brych

Yellow cards: Cagdas/Petit, Brecko