FC stroll through to quarter finals

With an impressive 3-0 (2-0) win over Eintracht Trier, 1. FC Köln booked their place in the draw for the quarter finals of the DFB Cup. 10,800 spectators at the capacity filled 'Moselstadion' saw Milivoje Novakovic (25') and Youssef Mohamad (29') give the visitors a 2-0 lead going into the break. Shortly after the re-start, Maniche made it 3-0 (52') to definitively decide the game in Köln's favour.

Nova shows the way

By comparison to the eleven which started in last weekend's 0-0 derby draw with Borussia Monchengladbach, FC trainer Zvonimir Soldo made two initial changes, with Sebastian Freis and Maniche coming in to replace Christopher Schorch and Kevin Pezzoni.

In spite of having set out an attacking stall, FC had early problems in trying to break down the tightly packed Trier defence. It took until the 25th minute before the Bundesliga side finally managed to make an effective break-through. A corner made its way out the left where Ehret was placed to feed Maniche and the Portuguese midfielder in turn picked out Novakovic, who slotted home from close range to make it 1-0.

Just four minutes later, and still reeling from the conceded goal, Eintracht Trier found themselves two goals behind. A Podolski corner to the back post found the on-rushing Mohamad, who drove home Köln's second to give his side a 2-0 cushion to take into the break.

The decider!

Right from the very start of the second period, FC pushed in search of a third goal to put the tie well and truly beyond Trier. In the 48th minute, Maniche struck the crossbar with a well hit volley and just three minutes later, Podolski brought a save from Kronholm, who turned the ball against the right post. Sixty seconds later, FC finally had their eagerly sought third goal. Maniche let fly from 25 meters out and the Trier keeper was left helpless as the ball took a wicked deflection off the back of Josef Cinar and landed unstoppably in the back of the net - 3-0!

The third goal proved to break the home sides moral and from that point on, Köln had little to worry about. There were few genuine chances at either end during the remainder of the tie - with the exception of Sahr Senesie testing Mondragon's reactions and Podolski driving in a wayward effort from ten meters out. The comfortable 3-0 win sees FC Köln progress to the quarter finals of the DFB Cup competition for the first time since the 2002/03 season.


The game at a glance:

Eintracht Tier: Kronholm - Dingels, Lacroix, Cinar, Kempny (36' Pektürk) - Schulz, Anfang (36' Anicic), Reinhard (66' Bauer), Wagner - Senesie, Risser

1. FC Köln: Mondragon - Brecko, Geromel (54' McKenna), Mohamad, Ehret - Petit (88' Pezzoni), Maniche - Freis (84' Sanou), Podolski - Ishiaku, Novakovic

Goals: 0-1 Novakovic (25'), 0-2 Mohamad (30'), 0-3 Maniche (52')

Attendance: 10,800 (sold-out)

Referee team: Fritz: Stieler , Hofmann; Pickel

Yellow cards: Dingels / Podolski