VfB Stuttgart gains just at 1. FC Köln and leaves a fundamental question: When is a foot hit in a penalty worthwhile?
A controversial penalty has contributed to the fact that VfB Stuttgart took three points home from Cologne. In the 2-1 (1: 1) victory on the 5th matchday of the Bundesliga Bundesliga, Ermedin Demirovic (28th) equalized with a penalty from Jakub Kaminski (4th). The late winning goal scored Josha Vagnoman (81st). The VfB (9 points) passed the table past the Cologne (7 points).
The FC had caught the much better start the day after the presidential election, including early lead. After a conquest in the midfield, Ragnar Ache, for the injured center forward Marius Bülter (Achilles tendon irritation), put for the first time in the starting eleven, in the run of Kaminski. The pole confidently converted into his third goal of the season.
Shortly afterwards Ache almost added, lifted the ball over the late Alexander Nübel. Stuttgarts Luca Jaquez saved the line.
Controversial penalty
VfB found better into the game after 15 minutes and got involuntary help. Cologne’s goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe put the ball too far in his own 16 and hit the heel of the in between sprinting Demirovic instead of the ball. Stuttgart attacker continued, the scene fizzled out. But after a long break, video assistant Günter Perl decided to send referees Matthias Jöllenbeck to the screen.
Marvin Schwäbe meets Ermedin Demirovic at the foot
Schwäbe’s foot hit was clearly visible there. If Demirovic had dropped, a penalty decision would have been undisputed. So the question arose whether the contact was worthy of penalty even without Faller. Jöllenbeck took a lot of time and then decided on a penalty. Demirovic safely converted.
Sportschau Bundesliga Highlights, September 28, 2025 7:36 pm
Demirovic and Swabians agree
Cologne coach Lukas Kwasniok complained that the force of contact was evaluated in a slow motion than in the game. “I don’t see a single Stuttgart that complains in any form. Not every contact is a foul”, he said at DAZN. “The meaningfulness of the VAR does not open up to me.”
However, at least the two participants agreed that the decision was correct. “The problem is: it is not my nature to fall”said Demirovic of the Sportschau. “I would have made it easier if I had fallen directly, because it was a clear penalty. It was all the better that it was possible that you would whistle such a thing without falling.”
NESRIN ELENABOSLY, Sportschau, 28.09.2025 7:53 p.m.
Schwäbe admitted the hit on the foot: “When you see the pictures, you have to give the penalty”.
Few more highlights
Then Stuttgart was, given the double burden of Europe League With six new ones compared to the victory against Celta Vigo in the starting eleven, the dominant team with many shots on top. Only after the change of sides did the FC get going better again and allowed less.
However, this was not good for the entertainment value of the game. An outdoor post from Stuttgart’s Tiago Tomas (70th) was still the most spectacular scene of the second half – until VfB still caused a real highlight. Angelo Stiller played a perfect steep pass on Vagnoman, the Swabian overcame from a short distance to 2-1.
Nesrin Elnabosly, Sportschau, 28.09.2025 7:44 pm
In the final phase, the FC pressed the equalization, the substitute Said El Mala initiated several attacks. The Cologne team came up with a record of 16:15 goal shots, but no further goals.
Cologne in Hoffenheim, Stuttgart in Basel
Cologne will be a guest at 1899 Hoffenheim on Friday evening (8.30 p.m.). Stuttgart will play on Thursday evening in the Europa League at FC Basel (9:00 p.m.) and then on Sunday (3.30 p.m.) in the Bundesliga against 1. FC Heidenheim.