In an even game in the Europa-Park-Stadion, 1. FC Köln fell to an unfortunate 2:1 defeat to SC Freiburg. An own-goal from Max Rosenfelder had given FC the lead before goals from Derry Scherhant and Igor Matanovic turned the game in the hosts’ favour.
Team news
Julian Schuster opted for just one alteration after the win against Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Thursday evening. Lukas Kübler replaced Christian Günter.
Lukas Kwasniok made five changes from the side that started the win against Mainz last weekend. Rav van den Berg, Kristoffer Lund, Jan Thielmann, Tom Krauß and Ragnar Ache came into the side in place of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Cenk Özkacar, Eric Martel, Ísak Jóhannesson and Said El Mala.
Behind at the break
FC started the game with the moment of the important three points against Mainz still in their sails. After a promising beginning where Linton Maina and Marius Bülter fired off target, it was Maina who proved crucial to the breakthrough. His storming run found a way into the Freiburg box and Max Rosenfelder turned home his dangerous cross into his own net in the 10th minute.
That joy was short-lived, however. 90 seconds later, Freiburg had the equaliser. Yuito Suzuki latched onto the ball in the middle of the FC half and found a perfectly-timed through ball for Derry Scherhant. He moved in on goal and lifted over the oncoming Marvin Schwäbe to get the hosts back on level terms.
The remainder of the first-half saw FC largely in control, with Schwäbe largely untested in the first period. However, Freiburg took the only other major opening that fell the way of either side. Igor Matanovic rose highest to meet a Niklas Beste cross, with Matthias Ginter deflecting the ball back into Matanovic’s path to fire home and give Freiburg a half-time lead.
No goals in the second-half
FC started the better of the two sides following the restart and should have been level. Ragnar Ache headed wide from a wonderful Alessio Castro-Montes cross, whilst Marius Bülter was denied by a last-gasp Lukas Kübler block following a quick counter.
Much the same as the first period, FC were the more active team but were dealt a blow when Freiburg were awarded a penalty. Castro-Montes had blocked the ball with his hip before unwillingly having the ball hit his arm. Despite that, Bastian Dankert pointed to the spot. Nevertheless, justice was served as Marvin Schwäbe made a fantastic save to deny Matanovic a second goal.
Maina and Jakub Kamiński had late efforts at goal which were both parried by Atubolu, whilst Jan-Niklas Beste drew a strong stop from Marvin Schwäbe. Kwasniok’s side pushed for a late equaliser but failed to find a way through an organised Freiburg rearguard.
FC remain in 10th place despite the defeat and face a quick turnaround before their next fixture on Friday evening. Kick-off against VfL Wolfsburg at the RheinEnergieSTADION is at 20:30 CET on 30th January.
Line-ups
SC Freiburg (4-2-3-1): Atubolu – Kübler (Günter 55’), Ginter, Rosenfelder (Ogbus 63’), Treu - Eggestein, Osterhage (Höfler 63’) – Beste, Suzuki, Scherhant (Grifo 76’) – Matanovic (Höler 76’).
1. FC Köln (4-4-2): Schwäbe – Castro-Montes, Sebulonsen, van den Berg (Waldschmidt 86’), Lund (Jóhannesson 77’) – Thielmann (El Mala 67’), Kamiński, Krauß (Martel 77’), Maina (Schenten 86’) – Ache, Bülter.
Goals: 0:1, Rosenfelder OG 10‘. 1:1, Scherhant 11‘. 2:1, Matanovic 44’.
Referee: Bastian Dankert (Rostock).
Booked: Krauß (62’), Castro-Montes (69’), Scherhant (74’).
Attendance: 34,700 (sold-out).