Maina scores the winning goal
©IMAGO
1. FC Köln scored an important three points in the Bundesliga relegation battle. In front of their home crowd, the Domstadt team won 1-0 (1-0) against VfL Wolfsburg. Linton Maina scored the winning goal for the home team in the first half. At VfL Wolfsburg, Mohamed Amoura, their most accurate professional, was missing due to a disciplinary measure.
Wolfsburg’s top goalscorer Amoura was surprisingly missing from the squad – for disciplinary reasons, as the club announced before kick-off. “The team, the We, is above everything and Mohammed didn’t stick to it 100 percent during the week,” said coach Daniel Bauer on “Sky” and spoke of internal things. Captain Maximilian Arnold returned after his yellow card suspension. At FC, shooting star Said El Mala was initially back on the bench.
While the visiting fans set off fireworks in the stands shortly before kick-off, Wolfsburg got off to a powerful start on the pitch and initially had a lot of possession. After a short phase of reluctance, Cologne also found their way into the game better. VfL goalkeeper Kamil Grabara prevented the score from falling behind in the 19th minute with a strong reflex when Ragnar Ache came free to head the ball from close range.
Ten minutes later, Maina rewarded the now superior home team with the deserved opening goal, which caused red flares to glow in the south stand. After a pass from Tom Krauß, the 26-year-old fired a slightly deflected low shot from around 20 meters into the right corner. Even after that, the FC stayed on the trigger and pushed for the 2-0, but lacked the necessary precision in several well-played situations.
On the other side, Patrick Wimmer, after a one-two with Christian Eriksen, shot over the goal as a rare sign of life from the otherwise largely harmless guests (37th). In particular, the defense, which was very vulnerable with more than 40 goals conceded so far this season, had a lot to do, while there was very little going forward. This meant that FC went into the dressing room with a lead for the first time in almost three months.
VfL responded with a double substitution – Kento Shiogai and Adam Daghim came on for Lovro Majer and Vinicius Souza – and started off more actively offensively. A cross from Wimmer was spectacularly cleared in the air by FC keeper Marvin Schwäbe (49′). Maina also put a counter-attack opportunity from Cologne just wide of the goal (69′). In this phase, however, VfL came closer and closer to equalizing. Sebastian Sebulonsen blocked a shot from Adam Daghim at the last moment (73′). Kwasniok reacted to the change in the game and brought new speed with El Mala and Jan Thiemann 15 minutes before the end. Wolfsburg pushed and pushed, but in the end without success.
