After one year in the 2. Bundesliga, 1. FC Köln are back in the top-flight. A 4:0 win over 1. FC Kaiserslautern secured not only promotion to the Bundesliga but also top spot and the title. Eric Martel, Luca Waldschmidt, Florian Kainz and Mark Uth were on target.
Team news
Friedhelm Funkel made one change to the side that started against Nürnberg. Damion Downs replaced Tim Lemperle, who dropped to the bench.
Torsten Lieberknecht opted for two alterations after the win at home against Darmstadt. Kenny Prince Redondo and Daisuke Yokota were both absent with Erik Wekesser and Florian Kleinhansl coming into the side.
Ahead at the break
FC started brightly but it was Kaiserslautern who had the first two openings of the match. After Downs misplaced an early pass, Ragnar Ache went through on goal. His low shot was saved by Marvin Schwäbe, with the striker heading the rebound wide from six yards.
Funkel’s side responded and had two excellent chances to go ahead themselves. Both efforts came through Luca Waldschmidt, and both were well-saved by Julian Krahl. However, FC went ahead at the third time of asking. Leart Paçarada produced a cross of real quality and Eric Martel rose highest in the 15th minute to loop the header home.
Daniel Hanslik issued a warning with a completely free header that failed to find the target. Shortly after, however, FC got the second goal they were looking for. Denis Huseinbašić picked out the run of Damion Downs with real precision, and he unselfishly laid across for Luca Waldschmidt to thunder home at the back post in the 29th minute.
FC were forced into a change just after the half hour mark. Dominique Heintz was unable to continue and was replaced by Joël Schmied. Despite the dominance, FC had to thank Marvin Schwäbe twice for strong saves late on. He clawed away Marlon Ritter’s curling free-kick and dealt with Daniel Hanslik’s low drive well.
FC return to the top flight
The second-half began with a second FC change, as Linton Maina replaced Jusuf Gazibegović. In the 57th minute, a golden chance came about for a third FC goal. Luca Waldschmidt was wrestled to the ground and Sören Storks pointed to the spot. Waldschmidt opted to go down the middle, but Julian Krahl was able to flick the ball over the bar with his foot.
Any doubts about the three points were settled in the 76th minute. After Luca Waldschmidt’s initial effort was saved by Krahl, but Florian Kainz was on hand to finish from close range and grab his third goal in two games.
In the 82nd minute, Mark Uth came onto the pitch one last time as he ended his professional career. And how. After a rampaging run from Linton Maina, he teed up Uth to fire into the bottom corner from 16 yards and bring his career to the best possible close.
As the final whistle sounded, the fans stormed onto the pitch as FC secured the title and a return to the Bundesliga at the first time of asking.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe – Gazibegović (Maina 46‘), Hübers, Heintz (Schmied 33‘), Paçarada – Martel, Huseinbašić (Olesen 82‘) – Thielmann, Waldschmidt (Uth 82‘), Kainz – Downs (Lemperle 71‘).
1. FC Kaiserslautern (4-2-3-1): Krahl – Zimmer (Ronstadt 62‘), Heuer (Klement 62‘), Elvedi (Robinson 88’), Kleinhansl – Ritter (Ranos 77‘), Sirch, Kaloč, Wekesser – Ache (Alidou 62‘), Hanslik.
Goals: 1:0, Martel 15‘. 2:0, Waldschmidt 29‘. 3:0, Kainz 76‘. 4:0, Uth 87‘.
Referee: Sören Storks (Velen).
Booked: Ritter (45+2‘), Ronstadt (70‘).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).