In his 67-minute Bundesliga comeback, Timo Werner scored a goal to make RB Leipzig 2-2 (1-1) outnumbered against 1. FC Köln.
When Timo Werner trotted off after 67 minutes, RB Leipzig’s star returnee was frenetically celebrated – but after the final whistle the national striker supported himself on his knees, exhausted and a little disappointed. Outnumbered, the Saxons had to settle for just one point in the 2-2 (1-1) win against 1. FC Köln, just like at the start of the season in Stuttgart. (The game to read in the live ticker)
The new star striker played for a good hour, he scored to make it 1-0 (36′), but the intended three-pointer against FC didn’t materialize. “It was very emotional and something special to come back. Leipzig was always a part of me,” said the ex-Chelsea professional sky: “70 percent of the team still knows me, so it wasn’t that difficult to get back in.”
And the missed victory? Werner: “The 2:2 is acceptable, but not satisfactory for our requirements.” While RB star player Christopher Nkunku (56th) scored for the hosts, Cologne’s Florian Dietz (40th) and Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol (72nd) equalized twice with an own goal. “I’m happy for Flo that he was rewarded with his goal,” said Cologne captain Jonas Hector. In injury time in the first half, RB noble technician Dominik Szoboszlai (45 + 1) saw the red card because of an elbow blow.
Although Werner had only trained with the team for three days after the announcement of his move from Chelsea, there were already indications of a starting eleven, according to coach Domenico Tedesco he was “directly an option” thanks to the preparation at Chelsea – which the coach resorted to. Werner stormed from the start with Christopher Nkunku, although access took some time to warm up.
RB Leipzig with VAR bad luck and opening goal
Others caused the first excitement. After strong preliminary work by David Raum, Dani Olmo (9th) flicked the ball from the edge of the penalty area into the goal for the supposed lead. According to the video images, referee Benjamin Brand dismissed the goal with some delay, as Raum had previously put the ball past his opponent with his hand.
Werner was also in the air for a long time in the first round. He was allowed to shine briefly once when he hung up a pass for Nkunku (15th) and he pushed it in for the next RB goal – but was clearly offside. But then Schwäbe gave a lot of help. Alluded to by Benjamin Henrichs, Werner pulled from 25 meters without much pressure. The harmless shot slipped cleanly through Schwäbe’s arms.
Shortly thereafter, Nkunku (40th) should have raised when the Frenchman appeared free in front of Schwäbe, but the goalkeeper cleared. Lucky for Cologne, who also played well in the second game without Anthony Modeste, who had moved to Borussia Dortmund. Again and again they bravely pushed into the penalty area – and were rewarded just before the break when Dietz scrambled the ball over the line.
During the break, the Tedesco team rallied after the red card against Szoboszlai and struck coldly. With the first really dangerous situation, Olmo sent Nkunku low, who ran away from his captors and easily converted. But it got exciting again. Gvardiol, who came on after half-time, involuntarily pushed a corner from Kainz over the line.
RB Leipzig – 1. FC Cologne: The voices
Domenico Tedesco (RB Leipzig coach): “There were a few strokes of fate for us. We suffered a lot today. But I believe that many teams would have lost the game today.”
Steffen Baumgart (Coach 1. FC Cologne): “From my point of view it was a good game. We did a lot of things well in the first half. We had the necessary bit of luck a few times. Marvin is a bit unlucky with the goal. But he was like us with Nkunku’s chance in the game stops, then ‘hat off’.”
