After three draws in a row, 1. FC Köln claimed their third win of the season on Friday evening. Against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, the Rhinelanders went into the dressing room trailing, but came up trumps after the break and turned the game around. In one scene, Cologne also had luck on its side.
It was a curious scene, one in which SpVgg Greuther Fürth could have extended their lead, but were unlucky twice within seconds. Just over half an hour had passed when Dudziak had a shot in the 1. FC Köln penalty area, but only hit the post and then also hit the aluminium from an acute angle;
So it remained 1-0, an intermediate score that was also shown on the scoreboard at the break in Cologne’s Rhein-Energie-Stadion, but was gone quite quickly after the change of ends. The hosts built up great pressure, turned the game around and ultimately won 3:1.
When referee Matthias Jöllenbeck brought the game to an end on Friday evening, the statistics spoke for themselves: 68 percent possession, 8:1 corners and 18:7 shots on goal – Cologne’s victory was completely in order.
Fürth goalkeeper change: Funk replaces Burchert
After the 1:1 in Frankfurt, FC coach Steffen Baumgart had opted for Meré instead of Kilian in central defence and Uth instead of Ljubicic in midfield. Fürth coach Stefan Leitl also changed his starting eleven in two positions after the 1:3 against FC Bayern. Funk was preferred in goal to Burchert, who had been the regular goalkeeper until then. In addition, Tillman played from the start for the first time this season, replaced Green and had a very good scene in the 7th minute.
After a throw-in by Willems, the ball came via Nielsen and Hrgota to Tillman, the 22-year-old served Meyerhöfer with an excellent pass, the right-back appeared alone in front of Cologne’s keeper Horn and tunneled him – 0:1.
Cologne have 72 percent possession – Modeste fails
Now Cologne were challenged, but struggled at first. The hosts had much more of the game in the first half (72 percent possession), but they hardly ever had a dangerous finish. Fürth sealed the spaces and defended so consistently that FC only became more forceful in the last minutes before the half-time break. Modeste’s best chance was a header against Funk (43rd).
After the change of ends, Cologne continued with the final phase of the first half and this time rewarded itself: First Andersson scored after a cross pass from Schmitz to make it 1-1 (50th), then Skhiri pushed the ball over the line with his thigh after a corner (55th). Now Baumgart’s team was on top. Fürth could only manage a little, Cologne dominated – and scored a third goal shortly before the end: After an opponent’s corner, FC counter-attacked, substitute Schaub served Skhiri, a clever lob – 3:1, the final point (89th).
With now twelve points on their account, Cologne travel to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on 15 October (20.30). Fürth, who remain on a single point from their first seven games, are challenged the following day (3.30pm) at home against fellow promoted side Bochum.