Boniface deficiency in extension
© Imago
There was also a lot of passion and a two-goal tour of second division leader 1. FC Köln-defending champion Bayer Leverkusen is again in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. In a heated Rheinische derby in 3: 2 (2: 2, 0: 1) after extra time, the Doublesieger continued and once again demonstrated his qualities as a last-minute specialist.
According to gates of Damian Downs (45th minute+10) and Linton Maina (54.), the quarter-final sensation was already in the air before Patrik Schick was with a double pack (61./90.+6) the clear favorite after pressing playful Superiority saved in the extension. There, the fate Victor Boniface made the decision (98th) against tired Cologne team. In the 112nd minute the FC cheered again, but Imad Rondic’s goal was revoked after video review due to an offside position.
The duel of the Rhenish opponents, which has now been separated far from each other, began with the usual provocations of the fan camps. At the beginning of the game, the appendix of the German champion, which was laughed at by FC, presented a great choreography, in which hooded faces were seen based on the Cologne heraldic Tiepfier Geißbock with the slogan “Goatbusters” (goat hunters). The FC fans answered with the burning of pyrotechnics, which caused a more than ten-minute interruption right from the start in view of the huge smoke development.
The lawn continued aggressively. Which was particularly due to the guests who opposed the significantly finer gait of the Leverkusen ball virtuoso passion. The hard climbing of the Cologne team against Leverkusen’s superstar and noble technician Florian Wirtz, who had once switched from FC youth across the Rhine, was also violent. FC coach Gerhard Struber also demanded this aggressiveness before the game in the ARD.
The second division heading leader was not part of the Double winner in a playful manner. As with handball, Bayer had the ball circulated in front of the Cologne defense bar. Except for a slatted free kick by Alejandro Grimaldo (30th) and another bullet chance of the Spaniard, in which he did not hit the ball properly (34th), however, hardly anything came out despite 75 percent possession in the first half.
Cologne’s attacker Downs shocked Leverkusener far in the stoppage time of the first half when he immediately used FC’s first real chance of scoring. After a mistake by Mukiele pressed Downs, the ball against Exequiel Palacios and Kovar gave no chance in the Bayer goal. The game was turned upside down.
The game also only knew one direction: in that of the Cologne Gate. The FC professionals bravely threw themselves into every ball, but could never keep the play equipment away from their own penalty area. Wirtz missed the overdue compensation (51.) and again the FC struck out of nowhere. The Maina, which was clever by Down’s class, let the Mukiele, which were again indisposed, and Kovar could not parry the second ball on his goal.
Bayer brought Bayer back into a brilliant action by Wirtz, who served the striker Schick perfectly. After a long ball by Jonathan Tah, Wirtz skilfully took the play equipment on the left wing and was too chic at the right moment, who tuned the Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe from an acute angle.
The Werkself pressed and pressed the equalization – and was rewarded late by Schick in added time. At the end of the regular playing time, 82 percent possession for Bayer was booked. Leverkusen also dominated the action in the extension. Boniface almost consequently provided the 3-2 and thus prevented the Cologne cup sensation – also because Rondic’s goal did not count. Referee Frank Willenborg announced the decision to the viewers by announcement.