Despite a 2-0 lead, the 1. FC Köln missed the small sensation against defending champion Leverkusen. The Bayer-Elf saved itself “last minute” once more and had more strength there. Leverkusen won 3: 2 (0: 1, 2: 2) NV on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup in the local arena and can continue to dream of the title defense.
Damion Downs had given the guests in the long stop time of the first half (45.+10), Linton Maina increased after the change of sides (54.). But Patrik Schick quickly shortened after a world-class preparation by Florian Wirtz. And it was also the Czech who once again made a last-minute goal and the hosts shot into the extension. There Victor Boniface (98th) scored the lucky Leverkusen victory.
In particular, the concentrated defense on the part of the Cologne team around the never -tired defense chief Dominique Heintz brought the success in the rival Rhenish neighboring town – Leverkusen to the brink of a defeat that evening. But in the end, the Bundesliga club prevailed against strong, but always tired guests from the cathedral city.
Heintz: “Would have deserved to get on”
“The departure is bitter”said Heintz after the game at the Sportschau microphone, “Eight minutes of stoppage time are in such a game. But we had a great plan, held up great against it, played with passion and actually deserved to get on.”
Ten minute interruption by smoke
The game started with a blocked shot from Granit Xhaka after exactly 46 seconds – and a little later nothing worked. Because triggered by pyrotechnics from the Cologne fan block, the arena sank into the smoke in Leverkusen. Referee Frank Willenborg interrupted the game for almost ten minutes.
But as soon as it was possible to play again, FC almost made the 1-0: After winning the ball at his own penalty area, Timo Hüber’s sent Linton Maina on the right. The fast Cologne shook Edmond Tapsoba, put in the middle on the Damion Downs, which went straight, but scored over the Leverkusen Tor.
Leverkusen with more game shares
The hosts benefited from their individually larger opportunities, but without being able to earn real chances. The Cologne goal was only in danger until the 30th minute when Alex Grimaldo was drosing the resting ball from about 25 meters onto the latte after a foul on Wirtz. Cologne’s goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe was on the spot, but did not intervene.
The crossbar had the eleven of Xabi Alonso switched a gear. Wirtz, whose socks had almost slipped down to the ankle, lifted the ball through the Cologne chain on Jeremy Frimpong. Its pass surprised Grimaldo, who scored just from the good position of the Cologne’s goal.
Ten minute added time – suddenly Cologne celebrates
The league leader of the 2nd Bundesliga, which was very well positioned by coach Gerhard Struber, did not bare himself with the archrival, but had to do a lot of effort. Defense chief Dominique Heintz, quickly warned because of a foul on Wirtz, was lucky that after a tackling against Nordi Mukiele, he would not flew off the square with the second yellow card.
As expected, ten minutes of stoppage time were displayed. When the extra time had almost expired, Cologne cheered. Because after a long discount of cocks of the inattentive Leverkusen defense, several carvers – and Downs thanked: vigorously, he prevailed against Mukiele and the exequiel Palacios, which hurried to help, and sank the ball with a flat shot in the Torwarteck, which is difficult to see for Matej Kovar .
Super tensioner Second section of the game – Heintz Bärenstark
After the break, the home side continued to struggle against traveling Cologne. Heintz repeatedly noticed over the entire season of almost 110 minutes, who threw himself into the Leverkusen attacks with caution and vehemence. In addition, in the 51st minute Wirtz left a big chance after Schwäbe had strongly clarified against Frimpong and the ball jumped 15 meters in front of the goal in front of the feet of the “magic foot”.
And a little later Cologne cheered again: Downs served on the right with a long ball Maina, which could not take the opportunity to take and increase with a long solo from the center line against the unfortunate Mukiele (54.).
Joy does not last long: Alonso reacts
At the latest now, double trainer Alonso had to react. And only seconds after Nathan Tella replaced the not always sovereign Emiliano Buendia, Wirtz picked the ball out of the air with a kung fu jump (see goal of the year through Harry Kane), let Jan Thielmann get out and set off and set Patrik Schick, who started in the five. The Czech tunneled Swabian and pushed the ball into the goal (61.) from a very short distance.
Cologne bit and fought. Maina had to be shaken by cramps before the end of the final phase. Above all, the line of defense kept tight at the back, even with standards, the long Leverkusen players could not do anything.
For this, Cologne headed Timo Hüber on the goal after a corner in the final phase – but Kovar in the Bayer box had no problems with the attempt.
Last five minutes: Bayer goes “all in”
Alonso brought Aleix Garcia for Mukiele in the last five minutes and now threw pretty much everything in the game of what he had on the bench. Tella pulled out of the half -right penalty area, but failed due to Swabia. Tah also failed in the seventh minute of stoppage time at the Cologne keeper.
But then he was powerless. After the defense against Tah, Frimpong flanked from right to the five, where Schick played his entire length and hit the goal to compensate.
Extension: Boniface does it
Even in the extension, the Cologne team did not wander from their line of consistent defense. But a single moment of carelessness was enough to fall behind: Grimaldo flanked from the left, Joel Schied in the central defense of the Cologne team had the striker Boniface, which did not emigrate to Saudi Arabia to 3: 2.
What else should Struber do with his Cologne? He decided on the last 15 minutes of this game for risk and ordered his men forward. And promptly Leverkusen countered, but Frimpong left the great chance against the attentive defender Learst Pacarada.
First Referee announcement sealed Cologne
In return, the fans experienced a roller coaster of feelings on both sides. The late Imat Rondic spoke a cross from the left side of Steffen Tigges into the goal. As always: This goal was also checked by the video referee. And then referee Frank Willenborg announced by stadium announcement: “The goal was checked. In the opinion of the pictures – final decision: offside!” Limitless cheers with the fans of the hosts, shaking the head with the Cologne. Leverkusen saves himself into the semi -finals.
And a small marginal note: The banner “Abolish video evidence” quickly hung the fans after this announcement.
On February 25, Arminia Bielefeld welcomes Werder Bremen in the third quarter -final game, the next day the game RB Leipzig against VfL Wolfsburg determines the last semi -finalist. VfB Stuttgart narrowly defeated FC Augsburg on Tuesday. The preliminary round will be drawn on March 2 and on 1st/2nd played.