Thanks to a lightning start, with a bit of luck and great determination, 1. FC Köln ended its earnings crisis in the Bundesliga. With two goals in the first 16 minutes, coach Steffen Baumgart’s team laid the foundation for a 3-1 (2-1) win at FC Augsburg in a lively exchange of blows over long stretches. It was the first win in a six-game streak with just two points and one goal.
Ellyes Skhiri gave the snappy and determined Cologne team the lead (7th, according to video evidence), Eric Martel increased shortly afterwards (16th). After the Augsburg goal by Ruben Vargas (29th), the defense of the guests wobbled very seriously. Linton Maine (59th) then calmed his nerves against Augsburg, who continued to attack energetically and lost a home game for the first time this year.
Cologne initially seemed more alert and determined with the constant back and forth and was allowed to celebrate after a first chance by Maina (5th): The goal of the free-standing Skhiri only counted after a three-minute check by VAR Sven Jablonski in the Cologne basement.
A few minutes after recognizing the lead, the Cologne team followed up in the very fast-paced encounter, which was characterized by many duels. When Martel shot from a tight angle, the unsafe Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz did not look good: the ball went through his legs.
The apparently reassuring lead did not give the billy goat team any security, because Augsburg pushed forward with passion and thus provoked mistakes in the Cologne defense. After a corner and a rebound, Vargas brought the hosts closer, after which equalization was in the air several times – the half-time whistle was just right for FC.
In the second half, Cologne was a little more secure, and Augsburg lost some of their momentum as a result. Dejan Ljubicic proved to be a good move for Baumgart: The Austrian provided stability in midfield and momentum down the right flank, and he also gave the lively Maina his team’s third goal with a perfectly timed assist.
FC Augsburg – 1. FC Cologne: The votes for the game
Enrico Maassen (FC Augsburg coach): “We knew the importance of this game, we could have made a big step. But we made too many individual mistakes. It was a very intense game, it was back and forth, but what’s important is what happens in the penalty areas. And we only scored one goal. We have to stop conceding too many easy goals as soon as possible, otherwise you can’t win a game.”
Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “From my point of view, the win was not undeserved. We did well, like in the last few games, we played bravely forward and this time we were lucky that we scored. It was an even game and it was tight to the end. Far from saying we were that much better than Augsburg.”
FC Augsburg – 1. FC Cologne: The data for the game
