1. FC Köln is in the final of the DFB Cup. For the first time since 2013, the U19s are dreaming of the title again. And that after a true roller coaster ride of emotions.
There could hardly have been a more dramatic course of a cup semi-final for the A-Juniors. A missed penalty, a private striker versus goalkeeper duel, a nerve-wracking extra time and then a penalty shoot-out where the supposed winning goal was taken back before the goalkeepers met head-to-head in the decisive duel.
The 2,100 spectators in the Franz-Kremer-Stadion experienced an extraordinary football game with a better ending for the billy goats. 1. FC Köln advanced to the final thanks to a 9-8 win on penalties. FC Schalke 04 is waiting there, and the two teams will meet in Potsdam on April 30th.
Ruthenbeck with tears in his eyes
Until then, it was a battle of nerves and a roller coaster ride that put even the experienced FC coach Stefan Ruthenbeck under maximum strain. After the final whistle, the 50-year-old looked visibly upset. “At some point I was through,” admitted Ruthenbeck. “At some point I couldn’t look at the penalty shoot-out anymore, I had tears in my eyes. It was hard. Luckily it went well.”
There were plenty of scenes that could have written the story of this game differently – also to the detriment of FC. For example, in the 22nd minute, when Berlin’s Teoman Gündüz missed the big chance to make it 0-1 after a foul by Elias Bakatukanda in the penalty area and took the penalty that was due on the right post.
Ruthenbeck: “We were lucky in some situations”
On the other side, Justin Diehl fought a private duel with Tim Goller in regular time, but failed four times at the Hertha keeper. It was only on the fifth attempt that the Cologne winger managed to get the ball past Goller and into the net to take a 1-0 lead (60′). “We put in a great performance in the first 65 minutes,” said Ruthenbeck, who then saw an opponent getting stronger and stronger.
“They had some really good guys with them,” the U19 coach praised the capitals, who equalized five minutes after Cologne had taken the lead through Dion Ajvazi (65′) and then had good chances to turn the game around. “We were really lucky in some situations.” However, as the game progressed, both teams began to lose their strength.
Duel of goalkeepers decides – Blazic becomes a hero
There was no winner after 120 minutes, the penalty shoot-out had to decide who got the ticket to the final – an intense game came to a crazy end like this: After 14 penalties in a row, Marlon Monning got the chance for FC to make the final perfect for the first time – but missed. Shortly thereafter, FC keeper Alessandro Blazic made the save again, giving Luan Simnica the next opportunity. And indeed: The midfielder scored, his teammates buried the shooter in a crowd of jubilation – but the referee didn’t give the goal.
Simnica had shot his own supporting leg with his left hand when he shot, from where the ball had fallen into the goal in an unnatural trajectory. Because of such a double goal by Florian Kainz, the pros of 1. FC Köln were kicked out of the DFB Cup against HSV in the 2021/22 season. Would the U19s be affected in this way?
No! Because the better goalkeeper that day was Alessandro Blazic. The 17-year-old, who should actually still play in the U17s, has become an FC hero. After a total of 20 shooters it was 8:8 – now the goalkeepers had to compete against each other. And Blazic kept his nerve: first he parried the attempt by his opponent Tim Goller, then he turned his right into Cologne luck, stretched his fists, welcomed his teammates who rushed over the edge and was finally allowed to celebrate.
Potocnik sees his teammates making it to the final
“Hertha were a top opponent,” said Ruthenbeck afterwards, overjoyed. “The fact that we were able to beat the Berliners at this level deserves a huge compliment to the team.” Not to forget the difficult circumstances under which the preparations for the game took place: The Fifa verdict with the transfer ban not only shook the club to the core, but also hit the U19s hard directly and immediately.
Because: Top striker Jaka Cuber Potocnik, because of whose commitment the club had been sentenced in January 2022, was also suspended for four months by the world association. The 17-year-old had shot the billy goats into the two semi-finals for the DFB Cup and the German Championship in the first place. On Sunday, however, he had to follow the action from the stands – at least after the game he was able to celebrate with his team on the pitch.
