Andrej Kramarić 1899 Hoffenheim saved a point against 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga shortly before the final whistle.
1899 Hoffenheim and 1. FC Köln met on Carnival Sunday (February 11, 2024) separated 1:1 (0:0) in the Bundesliga. Max Finkgräfe (79th minute) gave FC the lead with a wonderful free kick, while substitute Andrej Kramarić (90th+4) saved Hoffenheim a point.
The result doesn’t help either club. Hoffenheim has now been waiting for a win for seven games and cannot come close to the places for international business. Cologne remains in acute danger of relegation in the relegation zone.
First half without any real highlights
It was clear to both teams in the first half that a lot was at stake for them. Nobody really dared to take risks, Cologne even less so than TSG. To put it bluntly, the first 45 minutes were a real bore.
After all, Hoffenheim had three chances to score. Ihlas Bebou (14th) narrowly missed the goal with a shot in the penalty area. A chance of Wout Weghorst (26.) FC parried from a tight angleKeeper Marvin Schwäbe with his foot. Then the TSG striker put the ball well over the crossbar from the penalty spot (43′). Cologne failed to achieve anything offensively – after their recent 2-0 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, one could have trusted FC with more courage.
Apples on the playing field
Immediately after the restart there was the now obligatory stoppage of the game because fans in protest against the planned investorsdeal the DFL threw apples onto the field this time. After a three-minute interruption we continued.
Cologne still hardly dared to leave the cover and TSG dominated the game. After a nice diagonal pass from Robert Skov Bebou took the ball in a technically demanding manner, but his shot was too central, and Schwäbe held on to the ball without any problems. Then the FC, at least a little: After a long ball from Florian Kainz to Jan Thielmann, TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann came out of his box just in time to clear.
Nice free kick goal from Finkgräfe
As the game went on, the Cologne team invested a little more in the offensive, but without creating any compelling scoring opportunities out of the game. Ultimately, a standard had to do it for the Cologne team. Finkgräfe created a carnival atmosphere for the FC supporters when he curled a free kick from 25 meters into the goal a good ten minutes before the end of regular time – Baumann still had his hand on the ball, but could not prevent the impact. Cologne now stayed on, Baumann (86th) saved in dire need from the rushing Steffen Tigges.
When the Cologne supporters were already swaying in the stands in a true carnival atmosphere, they struck Kramarić in the fourth minute of injury time and spoiled Cologne’s celebration.
TSG against Union, Cologne against Werder
Hoffenheim has their next home game on Saturday (February 17, 2024, 3:30 p.m.), against 1. FC Union Berlin. The Cologne team opened the 22nd Bundesliga matchday at home against Werder Bremen the day before at 8:30 p.m.