Hertha BSC loses connection
1. FC Köln scores the victory seconds before the end
November 9, 2024, 3:02 p.m
On the 12th matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga, three teams with greater ambitions delivered absolutely meager fare for a long time: Hertha BSC and 1. FC Magdeburg dropped important points, but 1. FC Köln still scored after 94 minutes.
1. FC Cologne – Greuther Fürth 1:0 (0:0)
1. FC Köln has continued its upward trend in the 2nd Bundesliga. Coach Gerhard Struber‘s team defeated SpVgg Greuther Fürth 1-0 (0-0) and reduced the gap to the promotion places. Damion Downs (90+4) scored the winning goal late on.
The guests got off to a better start. Noel Futkeu ran alone towards Marvin Schwäbe, but the FC goalkeeper remained the winner of the duel (7th). After that, Cologne had a lot of ball control, but Fürth’s defense was compact. Eric Martel with a header (17th) and Linton Maina (29th) recorded the hosts’ best finishes in the first half.
The same picture emerged in the second half. Cologne tried hard, but lacked a brilliant idea. Martel (59′) and Leart Paqarada (65′) caused danger with a free kick that hit the top of the crossbar. Fürth stood deep and waited for a counterattack, but Cologne had the better end: Downs headed in a corner and brought the stadium to a boil late on.
SV Darmstadt 98 – Hertha BSC 3:1 (1:1)
Hertha BSC suffered the next setback and once again missed out on making it to the top group. The personnel-stricken team of coach Cristian Fiel lost 1:3 (1:1) at Darmstadt 98, which also ended Berlin’s away series at the Böllenfalltor.
A week after the setback against 1. FC Köln (0-1), Florian Niederlechner (21st) gave the guests the lead. Philipp Förster (45th + 2), striker Isac Lidberg (65th) and Andreas Müller (81st) turned the game in favor of the Darmstadt team, who extended their lead over the relegation zone. Hertha, on the other hand, loses sight of the promotion places due to their first away defeat.
The guests started powerfully and were rewarded when Niederlechner completed a quick attack. Without central defenders Toni Leistner, Linus Gechter, Marton Dardai and John Brooks, Fiel had to improvise. The people of Darmstadt only woke up after half an hour. The supposed equalizer by Kai Klefisch (26th) did not count due to an offside position, and Aleksandar Vukotic hit the crossbar (41st). A deflected long-range shot from Förster brought the Lilies back into the game.
Shortly after the break, the Berliners celebrated again, but when Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s goal (51′) referee Patrick Alt decided on handball after video evidence. At the other end, Lidberg, who was playing with a turban after a collision before half-time, scored with a header. Hertha keeper Tjark Ernst didn’t look good when Müller hit from distance.
1. FC Magdeburg – SSV Ulm 0-0
1. FC Magdeburg is in danger of losing touch with the promotion ranks after the fifth game in a row without a win. Due to the 0-0 draw in the Avnet Arena against newly promoted SSV Ulm, the FCM remained without a three-pointer in the sixth home game of the season. Ulm has also been without success for five games and remains stuck in the bottom of the table.
Without top scorer Martijn Kaars (five goals this season), who was missing due to a yellow-red suspension, Magdeburg lacked offensive power. The most danger came from long-range shots from Mohammed El Hankouri (19th, 24th) and a free kick from Marcus Mathisen (61st). The injury-hit Ulm team, who will also have to do without vice-captain Thomas Geyer after a meniscus operation during the week, had just as little progress going forward. The sending off of Philipp Strompf (87th) after repeated foul play did not change the result.
After the international break, the next promoted team awaits Magdeburg on November 24th, Jahn Regensburg. Ulm also has an away task ahead of them, the Sparrows are challenged by Hertha BSC.
