The 1. FC Köln collects a bitter damper in the 0: 1 (0: 0) defeat against Hertha BSC and must return the lead in the 2nd Bundesliga.
Hertha-Goalgetter Fabian Reese scored the winning goal (46th) for disappointing Cologne. After the last three victories in a row, the FC had to take a defeat again and also lost the lead to Hamburger SV. Cologne is now two points behind the HSV (52) with 50 points. Bodden could still make up for the third in the table in Kaiserslautern (46), which will start in the chasing duel in Magdeburg on Sunday.
“We certainly wanted something else. The expectations were clear: we wanted to win a victory”Cologne’s coach Gerhard Struber said after the game at the Sportschau microphone. “We reacted well after the goal and also played out opportunities. In the end you have to say that the Hertha was really strong today.”
The Berliners celebrated the third victory in a row and consolidated the calming eight-point cushion on the relegation zone. “It was important, especially after yesterday’s results that we added”Hertha coach Stefan Leitl said at the Sportschau-Mikrofon. “It was a fantastic away game, the boys deserved the victory.”
Cologne’s Hübers must fit
Cologne went into the game again with personnel problems, the diseased defense chief and captain Timo Hübers also lacked Hertha. Damion Downs was back on the bench for the first time from the prominent failures of the past few weeks, Tim Lemperle returned to the starting eleven.
Hertha caught the better start in front of a sold -out house in Müngersdorf. The Berliners attacked the Cologne team early and successfully in the game structure, the FC hardly brought about constructive.
Hertha The more dangerous team at the leaders
The Hertha the more dangerous team – and after 16 minutes with the huge chance to take the lead: Reese brought the cross to the second post perfectly for the marten of Winkler, but the saber on the ball – luck for FC.
It took almost half an hour until the first good Cologne chance: Denis Huseinbasic put back on Eric Martel in the penalty area, the captain had free rail, but put the ball half a meter next to the left post.
The FC was able to calm the game somewhat and take control, but in the game it remained a very tough matter. Shortly before the break, it suddenly got turbulent again: Ibrahim Maza, free again from the strong Reese, aimed dangerously from a lace angle on the short corner, Cologne’s goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe parried and steered the ball on the post.
Hertha-goalgetter Reese meets again
The Berliners came out of the cabin again better – and this time took their chance: Diego Demme levered Cologne’s defense with a steep pass on Reese. Dominique Heintz held too much distance, Reese pulled inside and circulated the ball under the crossbar for deserved Berlin leadership. It was the sixth goal for Hertha’s goalie in the past four games.
The Cologne residents asked for the deficit, and with the attempt at a quick answer: after the flank of Learst Pacarada, the previously inconspicuous Luca Waldschmidt suddenly received the huge chance-Hertha keeper Tjark Ernst prevented the balance with a strong reflex.
Cologne subsequently with more possession of the ball and also more offensive urge, Lemperle (61st) put the ball over the box from a short distance. The Berliners now had space to counter. Maza and Derry Scherhann gave good chances of a possible second goal.
Cologne luckless – despite the comeback from Downs and Pauli
FC coach Gerhard Struber brought fresh offensive forces with Dejan Ljubicic, Florian Kainz and the returnees and Julian Pauli. However, there was hardly any more creative impulses in the Cologne game, it was only dangerous after individual campaigns: Kainz found the down-to-the-art downs four minutes before the end with a strong pass, which pushed the ball into Hertha keeper seriously, but also missed the box. The FC unpacked the crowbar in the final phase, but in the end the first home defeat has been in the end since October 2024.
“Very annoying, of course we had planned to win this home game”said Cologne’s captain Martel in the Sportschau interview. “We were very difficult. Hertha was also very deep after the 1-0, we tried everything but couldn’t combine.”
Cologne in Fürth, Berlin against Darmstadt
Cologne will play on Friday evening (6.30 p.m.) at SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Friday evening (6.30 p.m.). Hertha BSC welcomes SV Darmstadt 98 on Saturday (1 p.m.) in the Olympic Stadium.