Third division soccer team Viktoria Köln scored a point against the undefeated leader TSV 1860 Munich. The Höhenbergers played 1-1 (1-0) on Saturday after goals from Marcel Risse (FE/24th) and Jesper Verlaat (86th).
A few days before the DFB Cup game against FC Bayern on Wednesday, Cologne also had a difficult task ahead of them against the third division club from Munich. TSV 1860 traveled to the Rhineland as unbeaten leaders.
And right from the start, a fast-paced game developed in front of almost 5,100 spectators in the Höhenberg sports park. After seven minutes, Viktoria keeper Ben Voll was on the ball after a dangerous Kobylanski free-kick. The rebound landed off Jesper Verlaat’s body to the left of the post.
Viktoria more and more dangerous after 15 minutes
After a quarter of an hour, the home side also developed a goal threat. The ball was in the Löwen’s goal after 18 minutes, but Simon Handle’s goal from close range was ruled offside. Shortly thereafter, Fabian Greilinger almost scored an own goal, but after the cross from Handle and a header on his own goal, visiting goalkeeper Marco Hiller cleared it brilliantly.
The Cologne were now powerful on the trigger – and they rewarded themselves. After Morgalla fouled Stehle in the Löwen penalty area, referee Tom Bauer gave a penalty kick, which routine Marcel Risse converted to the much-acclaimed Cologne lead (24th).
TSV trying to get things right after falling behind
TSV then tried to sort things out again and had the chance to equalize after 30 minutes through Skenderović, but he failed from a tight angle from seven meters at Voll. Five minutes later, Kobylański chipped a free-kick into the box on the left, and Verlaat headed it five yards in front of the goal. There, Lex headed over the goal unchallenged but much too hastily.
But overall, the front runner struggled against the deep and counterattacking Cologne team. It was almost 2-0, but Simon Stehle put the ball just wide of the left post after a Risse corner shortly before the final whistle, so that Viktoria went into the break with a deserved 1-0.
Full save twice strong
After the change, the Cologne team increasingly went into administration mode and let the lions come. The guests struggled, but rarely appeared dangerously in front of keeper Voll. After 60 minutes, however, he had to show all his skills twice when TSV had a double chance through Skenderović and first cleared a header and the follow-up shot from close range.
But overall, the hosts got along well with Munich’s attacking efforts. However, apart from a chance through Jamil Siebert (52nd), Viktoria no longer generated a goal threat. Coach Olaf Janssen made two offensive substitutions (Seok-ju Hong and Kevin Lankford) to counteract this with 13 minutes remaining. But Viktoria didn’t finish their counterattacks so consistently.
Verlaat is spot on
That was punished five minutes before the end: After a free kick from the left by Vrenezi, the ball found its way to Verlaat, who headed in from close range to equalize. It stayed that way – a performance-based draw. After five wins in five games, the sixties did not leave the field as winners for the first time this season.
Now Bayern are coming, then it’s off to Zwickau
Next up on Wednesday, the people of Cologne are expecting FC Bayern Munich in the catch-up game of the first DFB Cup main round at the stadium in Müngersdorf (8:46 p.m.). The league continues on Sunday with the away game at FSV Zwickau (2 p.m.).
