Under promotion expert Friedhelm Funkel, 1st FC Köln makes a huge step towards the Bundesliga. The victory in Nuremberg has been worked hard.
Friedhelm Funkel brought happiness back to 1st FC Köln. The promotion candidate won 2-1 (0-0) at 1. FC Nürnberg with his prominent interim coach on Friday, at least temporarily taking over the lead in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Matchwinner was a double scorer Florian Kainz (67th, 90th), who benefited from a heavy mistake by the Nuremberg goalkeeper debutant Michal Kukucka in his late winning goal. Janis Ansteiste (46th) had given Nuremberg in the lead.
With six points ahead of third place, the Cologne team could rise on Saturday with corresponding results of the pursuers. If Elversberg (against Braunschweig) and Paderborn (against Magdeburg) won, FC could make the return to the Bundesliga perfect on the last matchday against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on their own.
Cologne improved under Funkel
The 71-year-old Funkel, with six Bundesliga risers, relyed on players on the sideline on the sidelines, whom he knew from his second of three FC times: Jan Thielmann and Kainz occupied the offensive external positions and provided a lot of momentum.
Friedhelm Funkel provides instructions from the sidelines
After only one win from five games and the dismissal of coach Gerhard Struber on Monday, the Cologne team showed themselves to be improved playfully, but also awarded the best opportunities.
Correct penalty whistle
The game had started with a tricky scene. In the 2nd minute, Cologne Tim Lemperle fell on the five -meter room at the shot, referee Robert Hartmann gave penalty without hesitation. However, Var Holger Henschel sent him to the screen and showed him two camera settings in which it was only to be seen that Lemperle hit his own mainstay.
However, the third setting showed that Nuremberg’s captain Robin Knoche Lemperle had actively hit the foot with his knee. Nevertheless, Hartmann took back the penalty decision.
Thielmann meets aluminum twice
It was the start signal for an entertaining first half with a playfully improved FC, which was very close to the lead four times. Lemperle moved in front of the empty gate, Thielmann once failed on the inner post and once on the crossbar, a shot by Luca Waldschmidt Knoche clarified on the line.
Cologne’s Florian Kainz, Tim Janisch and Learst Paqarada in the duel
Nuremberg also had two good opportunities from Rafael Lubach and Tim Janisch, but could be satisfied with the draw for the break.
Dream start for Nuremberg in half two
Nuremberg coach Miroslav Klose brought Tino Kusanovic to the break and helped the 17 -year -old Croatian striker to his second division. The club got a dream start into the second half. Janisch flanked from the right, Cologne Heintz extended unhappily and accomplished anti -stined to the happy Nuremberg leadership.
Joker Maina forgives big chance
The Cologne offensive game subsequently stalled something, so that Funkel brought Linton Maina after an hour – who failed only three minutes later freely in front of the goal on Kukucka. Shortly afterwards, Kainz broke the spell by using a cross from Lemperle. This time FC was lucky that the goal was not withdrawn. Waldschmidt Caspar Janda had attacked in the creation, whereupon Janda played a fatal bad pass.
In the final phase of the game, none of the two teams took a risk. Cologne continued to determine the game, but did not get any further big opportunities – until Kukucka helped. The otherwise strong goalkeeper went unnecessarily into the dribbling against Lemperle, lost the ball and thus initiated the Cologne winning goal.
Nuremberg in Braunschweig, Cologne against Lautern
Nuremberg ends the season on the last matchday against Braunschweig (May 18, 3:30 p.m.). The Cologne game against Kaiserslautern – like all other second division legs – takes place at the same time.