1. FC Köln lost the home game on matchday 24 of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season against VfL Bochum 0:2. In a game with many inaccuracies on both sides, Kevin Stöger and Erhan Masovic scored the goals for the guests.
After the 0-0 draw at 1. FC Union Berlin last match day, FC head coach Steffen Baumgart made just one change to his line-up. Davie Selke replaced Steffen Tigges in the starting line-up.
Ellyes Skhiri had FC’s first chance after just 30 seconds, when he fired from 20 meters after a pass from Linton Maina, but VfL keeper Manuel Riemann ducked in time and grabbed the ball. FC continued to press in the early stages, but VfL took the lead. When the guests first attacked, Timo Hübers fouled Bochum striker Christopher Antwi-Adjei on the penalty area line, referee Tobias Welz awarded a penalty, which Kevin Stöger put in to make it 0-1 (9th). Takuma Asano had another chance for VfL, but shot wide of the left side of the FC box from a tight angle (13′).
Many inaccuracies on both sides
The FC tried to give a quick answer. In the 17th minute, Riemann saved the visitors from equalizing when he snatched up a shot from Jeff Chabot from close range on the line, a header from Davie Selke was also no problem for the VfL goalkeeper (29′). Schwäbe saved FC from falling behind after a goal from Asano (31st). Both teams had numerous inaccuracies in the game structure in the first half, which is why possession of the ball changed frequently. FC invested more, but were unsuccessful: Selke failed with another header at Riemann (41st).
Skhiri misses the equalizer
At the beginning of the second half, not much changed in the tough course of the game. It was not until the 61st minute that FC had the next opportunity. Skhiri missed pushing a sharp cross from Florian Kainz over the line in the five. FC head coach Steffen Baumgart reacted in the 67th minute and brought on Denis Huseinbasic and Steffen Tigges for Dejan Ljubicic and Davie Selke.
A free-kick from the guests soon robbed FC of any hope of winning a point: Stöger’s attempt at a pass was deflected to Philipp Hofmann, whose cross via Asano landed on Masovic’s foot, who scored from close range to make it 2-0 (72′). With Mathias Olesen, Tim Lemperle and Sargis Adamyan, Baumgart brought in more fresh energy for the final phase – but all other efforts were unsuccessful.
On Saturday, March 18, 2023, FC play day 25 of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season at Borussia Dortmund. Kick-off at Signal Iduna Park is at 6:30 p.m.
Statistics about the game
1. FC Cologne: Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Hector (K) – Martel (77th Olesen), Skhiri – Ljubicic (67th Huseinbasic), Kainz (77th Lemperle) – Maina (78th Adamyan), Selke (67th Tigges)
VfL Bochum: Riemann – Stafylidis (71st Janko), Masovic, Ordets, Danilo Soares (46th Heintz) – Losilla, Osterhage (82nd Broschinski) – Asano (80th customer), Stöger, Antwi-Adjei – P. Hofmann
Tore: 0:1 Stöger (9.), 0:2 Masovic (76.)
Yellow cards: Hector, Schmitz – P. Hofmann, Asano
Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden)
Viewers: 50,000 (sold out)
