2 despite a brave league start against Dresden

On the first matchday of the 2024/25 season, Viktoria Köln lost 2-0 to SG Dynamo Dresden. In the first half, both teams were on the same level in terms of performance, but the 6,155 fans in attendance did not see any goals. That changed in the second half, with Daferner from the penalty spot (47th minute) and Kutschke in the final quarter of an hour (78th minute) shocking a courageous Viktoria team. But then Serhat-Semih Güler came on and gave his team a real boost after a corner (82nd minute).

Both teams started boldly and wanted to make an offensive impact – but there were no real big chances in the first 30 minutes. Dudu, who had missed almost the entire preparation period due to injury, was surprisingly in the starting eleven. He showed confidence in the first half, parrying a cross from Dresden’s Kammerknecht (38′).

But Viktoria’s new signing Albion Vrenezi had the best chance. The Kosovar appeared alone in front of SGD keeper Schreiber shortly before half-time. The visiting keeper was just able to clear his shot for a corner. This then came in dangerously, and Greger’s header was only cleared by Dynamo at the last minute (45′). So the teams went into the dressing rooms with the score at 0:0.

The Viktoria boys came out of that bravely, but immediately caused the first big shock: After a bad pass from Enrique Lofolomo, Dresden midfielder Hauptmann was free in front of Dudu, who he wanted to run around with the ball at his feet. But the Viktoria keeper got to it with his hands, and Daferner converted the resulting penalty to give Dresden the lead. (47.)

Both coaches made a few substitutions, with Viktoria bringing on Bryan Henning and Serhat-Semih Güler (62′) as well as Kwabe Schulz (72′) and Malek El Mala (83′). The boys in red remained courageous and offensive and then suffered the next setback when Kutschke coolly took advantage of a counterattack for Dresden to make it 0-2 (78′).

Give up? Not Viktoria-like! The team that scored the most points after falling behind in the league last season was once again on the verge of avoiding what was thought to be a knockout. Janßen showed a golden touch by bringing on Güler, the Cologne native headed home a corner and gave his team further courage. But despite further good offensive moves, this was not rewarded, and the score remained 1:2 against the league’s top favorite.

Olaf Janßen and his team will continue next Saturday with the away game in Mannheim (2 p.m.).

Viktoria line-up: Dudu – Sidny Lopes Cabral, Lars Dietz, Christoph Greger (72. Kwabe Schulz), Niklas May – Enrique Lofolomo (62. Bryan Henning), Florian Engelhardt – Simon Handle (83. Malek El Mala), Albion Vrenezi, Said El Mala (62. Serhat-Semih Güler) – Lex Tyger Lobinger

Tore: 0:1 Christoph Daferner (47th), 0:2 Stefan Kutschke (78th), Serhat-Semih Güler (82nd)

Spectators: 6,155

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