1. FC Köln were beaten narrowly by VfB Stuttgart on Saturday evening at the MHP Arena. After Ermedin Demirovic opened the scoring, Ragnar Ache deservedly got FC level. However, a pair of late goals from Demirovic and Deniz Undav gave the hosts the victory.
Team news
Sebastian Hoeneß opted for four alterations from the defeat to FC St. Pauli in their last game. Lorenz Assignon, Jeff Chabot, Chema and Jamie Leweling came into the team in place of Josha Vagnoman, Ramon Hendriks, Angelo Stiller and Bilal El Khannouss.
Lukas Kwasniok made two changes to the side that started the defeat to Leipzig last weekend. Said El Mala and Ísak Jóhannesson were replaced by Joël Schmied and Marius Bülter.
Demirovic strikes for VfB
The game began without 700 FC fans told to turn back for Köln by police and almost with an early opener for the home side. A header from the half-way line split the FC defence and found Deniz Undav in front of goal, yet Marvin Schwäbe spread himself brilliantly to halt the inform striker.
FC steadied and saw Ragnar Ache head onto the roof of the net, whilst Jakub Kamiński fired just wide from an Ache flick-on. Despite the early promise, it was Stuttgart who went ahead. Chris Führich’s inch-perfect pass over the FC defence was headed across goal by Leweling, leaving Ermedin Demirovic with the easiest of finishes.
Demirovic had another good opening midway through the first period, though he couldn’t direct Maximilian Mittelstädt’s near-post delivery on target. FC bounced back, however, and had promising openings through Ache, Kamiński and Thielmann. Sadly, the final touch and finish were lacking as Stuttgart held onto the lead at half-time.
Demirovic and Undav win it late on
The early stages of the second-half brought little in the way of action with both sides lacking when it came tot he final touch and finish. The first real opening in the second period dropped to Marius Bülter, who blasted wide from close range from Sebulonsen’s good cross.
FC persisted and were finally rewarded in the 79th minute. A misplaced pass from VfB led to Luca Waldschmidt playing a perfect ball into Ragnar Ache’s feet. He left Finn Jeltsch behind him and chipped over the oncoming Alexander Nübel to deservedly draw FC level.
However, that joy would last just five minutes. A cross from Ramon Hendriks found Demirovic free in the six-yard box and he found the bottom corner. As added time ticked over, Florian Kainz lost the ball in an attempt to keep the play alive as Angelo Stiller picked out Deniz Undav and he turned home to seal the deal for the home side.
FC are next in action on Saturday, 21st February against TSG Hoffenheim. Kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION is at 15:30 CET.
Line-ups
VfB Stuttgart (4-2-3-1): Nübel – Assignon (Vagnoman 77‘), Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt (Hendriks 77‘) – Chema (Stiller 84‘), Karazor – Leweling (Tiago Tomas 84‘), Undav, Führich (El Khannouss 69‘) – Demirović.
1. FC Köln (3-3-3-1): Schwäbe – Schmied (El Mala 68‘), Martel (Kainz 89‘), Cenk (Waldschmidt 68‘) – Sebulonsen, Krauß (Schenten 89‘), Lund – Thielmann, Bülter (Huseinbašić 84‘), Kamiński – Ache.
Goals: 1:0, Demirovic 15‘. 1:1, Ache 79‘. 2:1, Demirovic 84‘. 3:1, Undav 90+2‘.
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Wangen).
Booked: Führich (29‘), Chabot (53‘), Demirovic (61‘), El Khannouss (76‘), Kamiński (90+5‘).
Attendance: 60,000 (sold-out).