Hardly a chance of scoring, but a totally curious own goal: thanks to a 1-0 (0: 0) victory against 1. FC Köln, the Karlsruher SC is again able to squint into the front places in the 2nd league. An extremely strange own goal of Timo Hübers (52nd) ensured that Cologne missed the in the meantime jump to the top of the table and the KSC has only five points behind in third place.
The game on Saturday evening is fundamentally declared as a top game, it has the best transmitter without Bundesliga concentration and prime time – and the duel between the KSC and Cologne also offered associations and the table situation that could stand for it. But at least the first 45 minutes had nothing to offer that could be advertising for the 2nd league.
“Overall, it was a tough game over 90 minutes“KSC coach Eichner admitted in the Sportschau interview. “The mutual respect was great and then such a game comes about where relatively little happens.”
Daniel Günther, Sportschau
“Statistically, we were certainly better than the opponent,” said Cologne coach Gerhard Struber. “But we weren’t efficient enough in our possession.”
A lot of idling and then an incredible own goal of Hübers
No team went to risk, there was no torsic scenes until one chance of Damion Downs (13th), at most half chances. Cologne rely on control, Karlsruhe on quick counterattacks, because the game was constantly interrupted by 15 fouls alone, there was no game flow. The hope for a better second half remained – because it was a lot for both: Cologne was able to jump back to the top of the table and the KSC returned to the front places.
After the break, the team continued where they stopped – but then a goal actually fell, but in a way that matched the game. KSC defender Christoph Kobald prevailed over the right side, flanked on Cologne’s Jusuf Gazibegovic, but his accident rescue operation crashed from Timo Hüber’s foot through his legs into his own goal – the 1-0 for Karlsruhe (52nd).
“No chance, that was a little slapstick”Hüber described the scene after the game in the Sportschau interview. “We can defend this better beforehand and I think the ball doesn’t go in in nine out of ten cases”.
Daniel Günther, Sportschau
1. FC Köln also disappointed after the goal
Now Cologne was asked to show that it has offensive qualities – but the team of coach Gerhard Struber hid them. A harmless shot from Eric Martel in the arms of Max Weiß (69th) was the highest of feelings for a long time. Instead, Karlsruhe looked more dangerous and, above all, more dynamic in his attacks. Although the punch was also missing.
Karlsruhe had started 2025 after the sale of striker Budu ZivziVadze (1. FC Heidenheim) with just one point from the first five games and had already said goodbye to the midfield of the league. However, because Cologne nothing succeeded in the front, Coach Christian Eichner’s team took the second victory in a row and now has a feeling again to the upper third.
Daniel Günther, Sportschau
Next Friday (07.03.2025) Karlsruhe can take the next step towards the promotion battle, at 6.30 p.m. Darmstadt 98 is the opponent. A day later, Cologne at SSV Ulm is about returning to the chance of success after just one point from three games.