1. FC Köln and Fortuna Düsseldorf shared the spoils in the Rheinderby on Saturday afternoon at the Merkur-Spiel-Arena. Jona Niemiec equalised with the final kick of the game after Eric Martel and Linton Maina had twice given FC the lead. Emmanuel Iyoha got Fortuna on level terms four minutes after Martel’s opener.
Team news
Daniel Thioune named the same side that started the win against Hertha BSC.
Gerhard Struber opted for one alteration following the defeat to Magdeburg last weekend. Luca Waldschmidt replaced the absent Dejan Ljubicic, with Tim Lemperle taking up his position in midfield.
Level at the break
The game began with both sides looking to make early impressions on the opposition. Fortuna had the first few forays into dangerous territory, though FC soon changed the tune. Luca Waldschmidt brought a fine save from Florian Kastenmaier, who managed to turn his low effort from 18 yards around the post.
FC’s pressure did pay off, finally in the 21st minute. Linton Maina’s clipped cross wasn’t dealt with by Kastenmaier, and the loose ball fell for Eric Martel to nod home from six yards out.
The joy would be short-lived, however. A spirited run down the left from Danny Schmidt saw him work enough space to cross. His delivery to the near post didn’t find any takers, though the ball squirmed to the back post where Emmanuel Iyoha made no mistake from close range just four minutes after falling behind.
The remainder of the first period produced little in the way of chances. Dawid Kownacki took the leather off the ball but failed to find the target from 18 yards. Luca Waldschmidt’s shot from a similar distance was cleared off the line by Andre Hoffmann when the net looked set to bulge.
Niemiec steals a point for Fortuna
FC were the better side from the very start in the second-half. Luca Waldschmidt had a huge chance from 12 yards but failed to find the target just two minutes after the restart. Denis Huseinbasic and Damion Downs had equally good openings but were unable to make the most of several very promising chances.
Finally, in the 62nd minute, that changed. A wonderful move down the left involving Linton Maina and Tim Lemperle saw the former break into the box and curl home into the far post to deservedly restore FC’s lead.
Waldschmidt and Lemperle had opportunities to extend the advantage, as well as Steffen Tigges, as the game ticked into added time. Fortuna cracked the crossbar through Giovanni Haag and that looked to be the last chance. However, in the fifth minute of four added on, Jona Niemiec’s cross found a way into the top corner to level the game.
FC are next in action on Sunday, 29th September against Karlsruher SC. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION is at 13:30 CEST.
Line-ups
Fortuna Düsseldorf (4-2-2-2): Kastenmeier – Iyoha (Fridriksson 70’), Hoffmann, Oberdorf, Gavory (Niemiec 70’) – Zimmermann, Johannesson – Klaus (Vermeij 78’), Rossmann (Appelkamp 78’) – Schmidt (Haag 46’), Kownacki.
1. FC Köln (4-2-2-2): Urbig – Thielmann, Hübers, Pauli, Pacarada (Heintz 90+4’) – Martel, Huseinbasic – Lemperle (Olesen 87’), Maina – Waldschmidt, Downs (Tigges 63’).
Goals: 0:1, Martel 21’. 1:1, Iyoha 25’. 1:2, Maina 62’. 2:2, Niemiec 90+5’.
Referee: Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle).
Booked: Waldschmidt (11’), Schmidt (15’), Struber (66’), Thielmann (77’), Niemiec (90+6’).
Attendance: 51,500 (sold-out).
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