1. FC Köln and FSV Mainz 05 parted ways 1-1 after an intense game. In the final phase it gets heated.
Angrily, Steffen Baumgart stormed towards the assistant referee, and the 1. FC Köln coach imitated a kick with gestures. Seconds after the points were shared against FSV Mainz 05, Baumgart, who had just been warned, was still unstoppable. It was incomprehensible to him that guest player Dominik Kohr had only seen yellow for a foul in the heated final phase.
The injury time scene had no effect on the fair 1-1 (0-1) between FC and Mainz, who have been unbeaten for nine games. The 05ers are on the spot in the fight for international places in the Bundesliga and missed the provisional jump to sixth place.
“Given the big chances, we didn’t deserve more than one goal,” said 05 sporting director Martin Schmidt sky. The Cologne were “in the end the slightly more dangerous team”. He didn’t want to overestimate the heated final phase: “It was provoked on both sides and pushed up. There was nothing bad in it,” said Schmidt.
FC offensive player Linton Maina, who missed Cologne’s greatest chance of winning, was annoyed. “If we clean things up, we’ll leave the field as winners,” he said. “We deserved more.”
Ajorque goal marks Mainz record
Winter newcomer Ludovic Ajorque (17th) had given Mainz the lead, Dejan Ljubicic scored the equalizer for FC (51st). The Cologne team has 32 points and has a reasonably comfortable lead over relegation rank 16 with six games to go.
After an uneventful first quarter of an hour, the guests used the first good opportunity of the game to take the lead. After a cross from captain Silvan Widmer, Ajorque only had to put his foot down. The Frenchman scored in the third game in a row and at the same time set a Mainz club record: Never before had FSV scored at least one goal in 14 Bundesliga games in a row.
In front of 50,000 spectators in the sold-out RheinEnergie Stadium, the hosts initially remained far too harmless offensively. FC created the first halfway dangerous opportunity in the 31st minute, Kingsley Schindler shot from the inside right position.
Maina awarded Cologne victory chance
Baumgart looked visibly annoyed on the sidelines, took off his vest and whipped his team forward. That had an effect: FC went into the duels more aggressively and took control of the game, but missed the equalizer before the break.
A flick from Eric Martel (35′), a header from Davie Selke (45′) and an artistic overhead kick from central defender Jeff Chabot (45′ + 2) flew over the goal, Linton Maina failed with a low shot by FSV keeper Robin Zentner (42nd).
The hosts were rewarded for this shortly after the change of sides: After a quick one-two with captain Jonas Hector, Cologne’s most conspicuous Ljubicic completed the far corner and scored the first FC goal after three goalless home games.
Both teams played to win in the final stages. Maina had the winning goal for Cologne on the foot (70th).
1. FC Cologne – FSV Mainz 05: The voices
Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “We deservedly were behind. Then the lads did what they do best: be brave and create chances. Overall it was a good and intense game, you could see how much both teams wanted to win.”
Bo Svensson (FSV Mainz 05 coach): “After the first 20 minutes we went through a long phase in which we just didn’t play football. It was difficult for us because the opponent did it very well. That’s a lucky point for us and we’re happy to take it with us .”
1. FC Cologne – FSV Mainz 05: The data for the game
Cologne: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector – Ljubicic, Martel – Schindler (63. Thielmann), Kainz (84. Huseinbasic), Maina (85. Adamyan) – Selke (74. Tigges). – Trainer: Baumgart
Mainz: Centner – Fernandes, Bell, Hanche-Olsen – Widmer (90th da Costa), Barreiro, Kohr, Caci (74th Martin) – Stach (63rd Lee), Ajorque – Onisiwo (74th Ingvartsen). – Coach: Svensson
Referee: Benjamin Cortus (Roethenbach)
Gates: 0-1 Ajorque (17′), 1-1 Ljubicic (51′)
Viewers: 50,000 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Kainz (4), Hübers (7), Thielmann (3) – Ajorque (3), Kohr (7)
