He’s done it again: With his goals number 21 and 22 of the season, Harry Kane led FC Bayern Munich into the cup round of 16. Despite the clear defeat in the end, 1. FC Cologne did quite impressively.
In the 1:4 (1:2) on Wednesday evening, Ragnar Ache put Cologne in the lead with his first competitive goal for his new club (31st). Before the break, Luis Diaz (36th/but from an offside position) and Kane (38th) turned the game around, after the break Kane (64th) and Michael Olise (72nd) made everything clear again.
Brilliant first half hour from Cologne
FC coach Lukas Kwasniok announced before the game that “to be brave and push Bayern to the limit” and of course to use the home atmosphere. “And then everything just has to fit together.” The first half hour was 100 percent consistent with this plan. The FC consistently looked for a way forward, attacked early and aggressively – and tried to finish on goal with just a few touches of the ball.
After just ten minutes, Cologne’s lead was in the air, but ex-FC keeper Jonas Urbig steered Isak Jóhannesson’s shot over the crossbar with a beautiful flying move. Bayern countered with a header from Harry Kane, which flew just past the left corner, then it was the hosts’ turn again: Jakub Kaminski had a completely free shot, but aimed it straight at the Bayern goalkeeper.
Opportunity Festival – but only Ache hits
Bayern, who had so far won 13 games in 13 games this season, really started to swim. Cologne put the pressure on and pushed the record champions completely onto the defensive. But first Jonathan Tah blocked a cracker from Joel Schmied, then Dayot Upamecano saved from Said El Mala, who would have been better off shooting directly at goal from close range instead of attempting a cross.
The FC leadership was overdue at this stage – and it actually succeeded. Jóhannesson’s corner landed at the far post to Ache, who beat Upamecano with great force, Urbig had no chance. But Bayern remained completely unimpressed and turned the game around within three minutes.
Offside goal from Diaz, world-class goal from Kane
When Luis Diaz equalized, FC had to accept the accusation that Konrad Laimer had previously been allowed to transport the ball through the midfield for a long time and unmolested. Josip Stanišić was denied by Ron-Robert Zieler, but the keeper let the low shot pass forward and Diaz scored.
Bitter for Cologne: The defense didn’t look good, but neither did Tobias Welz’s refereeing team: Diaz was clearly offside when Stanišić’s shot was taken and actively intervened after the high-five, which of course did not represent a new game situation – the goal was irregular.
Shortly afterwards, Cologne had only themselves to blame: In the Bayern attack via Serge Gnabry, Laimer and Michael Olise, there was again too little resistance, Olise passed through to Kane in the penalty area. Eric Martel then got into the duel, but went down too early and had to watch as Kane turned in world-class style at the six-yard box and shot into the far corner with his left – simply magnificent.
Bayern keeper Urbig a bit too casual
The FC stabilized again until the break, but in the 52nd minute they were in awe when Luis Diaz chased the ball meters over the goal after a solo effort. But after that Cologne became more dangerous again. Ache missed a good header chance, then Urbig took a low shot from Martel from the near corner.
But then the Neuer representative took a much too casual approach. Urbig intercepted a long FC ball far outside his penalty area, but then wanted to clear it particularly coolly with the outside of his foot. Jóhannesson received the ball around 60 meters in front of the Bayern goal and dared to take a long-range shot – but ultimately only aimed at the corner flag.
Kane heads it Preliminary decision a
But Urbig’s counterpart also made a mistake – and with serious consequences. Zieler wanted to punch away a corner from Joshua Kimmich, but was unable to prevail in the aerial battle, so Kane headed in for the preliminary decision. Just under 20 minutes before the end, the pace was simply too high for FC.
Harry Kane (l.) is cheered for his first goal against Cologne
In a lightning counterattack, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Diaz and Olise combined so quickly and precisely that no Cologne player even came close to a duel – even Zieler only saw the ball when it was in the net behind him.
Cologne’s Maina only hits the inside post
Even after that, the FC showed great morale, continued to play forward and were unlucky in the 87th minute that all their efforts were not rewarded again: Linton Maina only hit the right inside post, from where the ball flew straight into Urbig’s arms.
Sportschau DFB Cup, Sportschau, October 29th, 2025 10:59 p.m
Cologne will welcome Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga next Sunday (3:30 p.m.) for a duel between the two promoted teams, while Munich will play against Bayer Leverkusen a day earlier in the top game in the evening (6:30 p.m.).