1. FC Köln suffers their next setback in the 2nd Bundesliga. The billy goats lost a lead against SC Paderborn and lost touch with the top of the table.
Whistles at halftime, plus chants against managing director Christian Keller! Things are getting more and more uncomfortable at 1. FC Köln after the next mistake in the 2nd Bundesliga. “It is clear that the anger has to be released somewhere. Now it’s on me, I generally prefer that to it being against the players,” said Keller after the 1:2 (0:0) defeat against SC Paderborn on Sky-Microphone – while shouts of “Out of the cellar!” could be heard in the background.
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“Of course people have expectations that we will do better in the second division. We have already shown that we can do better,” added Keller. Instead of shortening the gap to the promotion ranks, FC is stuck in the middle of the table after the next defeat.
Keller wanted to nip a possible discussion about coach Gerhard Struber in the bud. “I know that’s always the reflex, but that’s not the problem,” emphasized Keller. “The coach is set, he’s doing a good job.”
The Cologne coach had chosen a new approach for the first time, but the more passive approach came at the expense of the offensive. Jan Thielmann initially gave the Billy Goats the lead (66th). But substitute Sven Michel turned the game on its head in the final phase. The striker equalized in the 76th minute, and just four minutes later the 34-year-old scored from close range to secure victory for the guests.
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Cologne struggles with “used evening”
“A very, very needed evening,” said FC captain Timo Hübers: “It’s bitter today. I can understand that the fans are angry.”
Coach Struber added: “Victory would be good for us to regain our self-confidence and conviction. The team has been through a lot in the last few months, it doesn’t seem to be that easy mentally. We simply need success experiences again. We were close to achieving a better result today, but in the end it wasn’t enough. Now we need patience and perseverance.”
Whistles in Cologne at half-time
Paderborn started with Luis Engelns in the starting line-up for the first time. The 17-year-old – son of former Gladbach coach Daniel Farke – almost scored early after Cologne defender Julian Pauli made a huge miscalculation (10th). The SCP goalkeeper was also new: Markus Schubert replaced Pelle Boevink, with whom coach Lukas Kwasniok was simply no longer satisfied.
Cologne, with Dejan Ljubicic replacing Damion Downs who had a cold, tried to achieve the “stability and compactness” that coach Gerhard Struber had demanded. No more headlong rushing at the expense of huge defensive holes: “Stand smart,” the Austrian called it.
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His team was surprisingly passive and left possession of the ball to the guests, FC goalkeeper Jonas Urbig saved against Filip Bilbija (34th). “We want to see you fight,” shouted the slowly restless Cologne fans in the sold-out RheinEnergie Stadium. There were whistles at halftime.
Cologne sinks into mediocrity
Even after the break, a blocked shot by Linton Maina (65th) had to be described as a Cologne highlight. FC didn’t play well, but finally had success – Jan Thielmann shot after a corner and tunneled Denis Huseinbasic with his shot. Schubert was powerless in the goal (66th).
But Paderborn immediately attacked passionately and hit back with a brace through joker Sven Michel (76th/80th). Paderborn climbed to third place, Cologne is sinking into mediocrity for the time being.
Last weekend, the Rhinelanders’ defense revealed major weaknesses when Cologne lost 1:5 (1:2) in the relegation duel at SV Darmstadt.
With Sports Information Service (SID)
