Cheering over the victory in Augsburg. (Photo: IMAGO / Huebner)
1. FC Köln shot up to sixth place in the Bundesliga with a gala performance at FC Augsburg. The billy goats dominated the Fuggerstadt team and in the end also deservedly won 4:1 (2:0). Anthony Modeste scored twice and scored one of the finest FC goals of the season.
Marc L. Merten reports from Augsburg
Greuther Fürth had done 1. FC Köln a favor on Friday evening. The bottom of the table, who had already been relegated, had wrested a 1-1 draw from Union Berlin. So it was clear: 1. FC Köln could jump to sixth place with a win at FC Augsburg and take a big step towards Europe – especially because the other two direct competitors (Hoffenheim vs. Freiburg) met on Saturday evening.
Steffen Baumgart changed one position for the duel at FCA: Jan Thielmann moved into the starting XI for the suspended Salih Özcan. In addition, the FC coach trusted the starting line-up that Arminia Bielefeld had defeated the previous week.
moment of the game
In the 77th minute, 1. FC Köln scored one of the best goals of the season. Substitute Tim Lemperle ended Niklas Dorsch’s career with a dribble, and until then it had been said that he was a good duel. Mark Uth then dropped Reece Oxford like Lionel Messi was playing against a district league defender. And then Anthony Modeste rushed up and chased the ball from 14 meters into the goal corner to make it 4:1.
The goals
FC Augsburg had dominated the early minutes and had two good chances through Vargas and Gregoritsch. But then 1. FC Köln struck with the first chance they had: The billy goats came over the right flank in front of the Augsburg goal. Dejan Ljubicic played the ball deep in the penalty area to Benno Schmitz. This fit into the back of the defense and Jan Thielmann didn’t miss the chance to shoot. The youngster fired with his right hand and sunk the ball perfectly flat in the far corner to make it 1-0.
Just three minutes after the 1-0 it was again Schmitz and Thielmann who made it 2-0. The striker headed a throw-in from the right-back from the goal line to Mark Uth. The playmaker got away 14 meters from the goal, took the ball and shot immediately. His powerful shot with the left hit the inside post, from where the artificial leather jumped into the goal. The 2-0 for the billy goats – the double blow for the FC!
In the 62nd minute, Augsburg had just made two substitutions and wanted to create new momentum, Florian Kainz played the ball perfectly into Anthony Modeste’s path. The Frenchman was fouled by Jeffrey Gouweleeuw in the box and received a penalty. It was a first this season – there hadn’t been a single penalty in games with 1. FC Köln to date. Modeste said thank you and converted safely from eleven meters to 3: 0 for the billy goats.
In the 73rd minute it seemed as if FC would score their fourth goal. But then Kilian miscalculated and suddenly substitute Florian Niederlechner was alone in front of Marvin Schwäbe. Although he managed to get the shot, he could no longer prevent the impact. But because Modeste put the cherry on the cake just four minutes later, the goal played no longer played a role in the end. Except of course for the goal difference, which could decide Europe.
Conclusion
1. FC Köln once again impressively substantiated their claims to Europe. After problems in the early minutes, FC took the lead and could have led earlier at the break. After the change of sides, the billy goats demonstrated their class and, apart from the goal conceded, practically never let Augsburg in front of the Cologne goal. This victory was never out of the question, and so the Cologne Union overtook Berlin in the table with 52 to 51 points. At the same time, they drew level with SC Freiburg, who still have to play in Hoffenheim in the evening.
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