VfL started energetically in the stadium in the Höhenberg sports park and could have led after just a few seconds when Omar Traoré shot free-standing, but missed. An even better scoring opportunity came five minutes later from Ba-Muaka Simakala. The attacker ran alone to keeper Elias Bördner, but aimed his shot a little too high. In return, Viktoria’s striker Seok-ju Hong had a huge chance to make it 1-0 after a perfectly executed counterattack. But the 18-year-old South Korean – one of the most conspicuous players in the first half – also missed the goal (7th).
Ex-Bremer Philipp puts Cologne in the lead
After the turbulent initial phase, Osnabrück was less and less able to use its attacks well. Cologne acted a little more confidently and purposefully in the forward movement and were the better team in the middle of the first half. David Philipp rewarded the Rhinelanders for their very high effort in the 30th minute with the 1:0. The native of Hamburg, who switched from Werder Bremen’s U23s to Merheimer Heide last summer, overcame keeper Philipp Kühn with a sensitive free-kick. Soon after, Hong could have raised the ball with a header, but, like his first chance, he didn’t aim precisely enough (36′).
And the VfL? Lower Saxony only developed a goal threat again in the final phase of the first half. Marc Heider (45th) and Sebastian Klaas (45th + 1) just missed the equalizer.
Köhler compensates for Osnabrück
After the change of sides, the Lower Saxony team were initially lucky not to fall 2-0 down after a Philipp shot at the post (49′). 60 seconds later the ball was in the goal on the other side: Sven Köhler maneuvered an assist from
Aaron Opoku via direct acceptance into the net. Both teams then stuck to their offensive orientation, which they showed from the start, so that the spectators continued to see an open exchange of blows.
The guests, who were close to their second goal through Traoré, left a slightly fresher impression. However, the 24-year-old failed to keep goalkeeper Bördner (64th). It was already the last big chance for the North Germans. Luca Marseiler had an excellent chance to make it 2-1 for Viktoria shortly before the end of the season. He moved free-standing (88th), so that it remained a performance-based draw.
Match statistics FC Viktoria Cologne – VfL Osnabruck
Matchday 26, February 14, 2022, 7:00 p.m