1. FC Köln continued their winning streak with a 1-0 (0-0) win at Betzenberg in Kaiserslautern. The reward: the autumn championship in the 2nd league. Dejan Ljubicic scored the golden goal for Cologne (33′). Interesting: It was Cologne’s fourth 1-0 away win in a row.
The Cologne team traveled to the Palatinate as the team of the hour: the billy goats suffered their last defeat at the end of October, then there were five wins from six league games and a place in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. This meant that the Cologne team had catapulted themselves from the bottom of the table to fourth place. With a win in Kaiserslautern, two points behind FC, they would move to first place in the table.
The Cologne team started accordingly bravely and stormily on the Betzenberg, which was once again full – where there was a great atmosphere in the stands. Just two minutes had been played when Cologne’s Linton Maina was denied by FCK keeper Julian Krahl from close range. And because the hosts immediately switched to forward gear, the fans were treated to a top-class game with a lot of pace.
Pacarada as soft as butter on Ljubicic – 0:1
Cologne almost took the lead after 30 minutes: Maina quickly took a free kick and found Damion Downs on the right side of the penalty area. He took off straight away, but also failed due to Krahl’s brilliant reaction. Three minutes later the time had come: Lennart Pacarada was cleared well on the right and hit a cross as smooth as butter to the second post. Dejan Ljubicic ran in and headed wonderfully into the far corner – the score was 0-1 (33′).
Shortly before the break, the next excitement: The goalscorer Ljubicic, who had only recently been warned, let Jan Gyamerah jump over the blade in midfield. Loud protests from the hosts – they demanded yellow-red against the Cologne player – were reflected off by referee Wolfgang Haslberger with a smile. He decided against the second yellow and left the Austrian on the pitch.
Mause fails against Schwäbe
Cologne went into the second half of the game with eleven players – and continued to show a better playful approach. With the necessary patience, promising attacks were repeatedly initiated, primarily from the left side. Lautern fought against it. And almost equalized in the 57th minute. Jannik Mause ran a deep pass and tried to go around FC keeper Marvin Schwäbe, but failed because of his classy reaction and outstretched arm.
Lautern now picked up the pace again. In the 61st minute, Schwäbe boxed a long-range shot from Jannis Heuer out of the danger zone, and Aaron Opku, who had just been substituted, was denied six minutes later with a shot from the corner of the 16 by the Cologne keeper, who once again made a great save.
Cologne defends with luck and skill
Cologne retreated far too far, but perhaps there was no other option given the pressure from the hosts. But even in this critical phase, the Rhinelanders showed their new class: Despite constant pressure from the Palatinate, the Cologne team defended their victory more or less confidently. And thus climbed to the top of the second division table.
Kaiserslautern at home against Ulm
1. FC Kaiserslautern welcomes Ulm on matchday 18 (January 18th, 1:00 p.m.). Cologne is a guest at HSV (January 18th, 8:30 p.m.).