Steffen Baumgart wants to go to Berlin – this season, at least in the DFB Cup, it won’t work. 1. FC Köln fails in the first round at Jahn Regensburg.
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Cologne’s Timo Hübers (l) and Regensburg’s Prince Osei Owusu in a duel for the ball. (Image: dpa)
(Photo: Matthias Balk/dpa)
Regensburg – For Steffen Baumgart and 1. FC Köln, the long-awaited trip to Berlin is over after the first stop.
The Rhinelanders fought back after a 2-0 loss at SSV Jahn Regensburg, but were unable to avert their defeat in the first round of the DFB Cup in a 3-4 penalty shoot-out. After extra time, the passionate cup fight was 2: 2 (2: 2, 1: 2).
Regensburg presents itself in strong condition
The stubborn league leaders of the 2nd Bundesliga can hope for a similarly furious cup trip as in 2020/2021, when after three wins on penalties it was only the last stop in the quarter-finals. Goalkeeper Dejan Stovanovic saved against Julian Chabot and finally Kingsley Ehizibue, on the other side Cologne’s Timo Horn could not be overcome only by Benedikt Saller.
Andreas Albers (18th minute) and Prince Owusu (27th) quickly put Cologne under enormous pressure in front of 13,236 spectators in Regensburg. One week before the start of the Bundesliga against FC Schalke 04, Mark Uth (28th) and Dejan Ljubicic (63rd) gave the guests hope for a conciliatory debut in a competitive game.
From the beginning there was fire in this game – and also smoke. Cologne fans burned off pyrotechnics before kick-off. Red plumes of smoke drifted through the stadium.
The Regensburgers continued their top start in the 2nd Bundesliga with two wins and combined well in front of the goal of keeper Horn. A measured cross from Leon Guwara nodded Albers to 1-0 for the poisonous hosts.
Maximilian Thalhammer made it 2-0 by winning the ball in midfield against Cologne’s Chabot. Owusu let the Regensburg fans cheer again.
Baumgart had given the final in Berlin as a goal. “As a coach, I never got past the quarter-finals. My personal goal is to be in the final in Berlin at some point,” said the coach of the Rhinelanders, who were wearing blue jerseys, before the exchange of blows, which is well worth seeing.
Cologne’s Uth with a goal and template
Cologne, where captain Jonas Hector only came on in the second half, fought back. They did not want to fail again on penalties at the Upper Palatinate as they did in February 2021 when they were eliminated in the round of 16. Only seconds after the 0:2, Uth made the connection with a left hammer from 18 meters.
The 30-year-old striker also initiated the equalization for Cologne, who were now more willing to run. Ljubicic completed after playing with Florian Kainz.
Cologne became more and more game-determining, Regensburg hardly dangerous. Substitute captain Anthony Modeste (90+2) put a Uth free-kick on the crossbar. Jahn-Keeper Stovanovic saved from a few meters against Linton Maina (94th). From the point, however, the Regensburg team had stronger nerves.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220730-99-215533/2
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