Cologne versus Leverkusen: Thrilling Rhine derby ends without a winner
Status: 10/24/2021 5:15 p.m.
Sold out stadium, great atmosphere in Cologne and a “felt” winner in the Rhenish classic: 1. FC Cologne is playing against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
With a double strike within 100 seconds, the guests from Leverkusen were in the lead on Sunday (October 24th, 2021) by Patrik Schick and Karim Bellarabi and looked like the sure winner after the first half. But the Cologne team turned the game in the second half and especially cheered their goal getter. Anthony Modeste’s two goals (63rd minute / 82nd) equalized in a great football game. For Cologne it was a small success after three derby defeats.
“We turned the game around, that’s our strength in the season. This is our living room, you can’t win that easily,” said match winner Modeste, who was celebrated on his lap of honor with standing ovations and chants.
Corona very far away
The conditions for the Rhenish classic couldn’t have been better even before the start. Bright October sunshine over the stadium in Cologne-Müngersdorf and for the first time a full house in Corona times: 50,000 fans – sold out:
Accordingly, it started with an atmospheric atmosphere. And the Cologne fans immediately shot at Florian Wirtz. The young national player from Leverkusen and “prodigal son”, who moved to the other side of the Rhine at the age of 17, was accompanied by shrill whistles every time he touched the ball. Even FC coach Steffen Baumgart had added his mustard to the spicy change from the beginning of last year shortly before the derby, um fire up the game.
Wirtz initiates goals
In the 16th minute of the game, however, it became abruptly quiet in the stadium, because Wirtz – unimpressed by the Cologne audience – had put Diaby in the limelight with a soulful pass, Diaby went straight to Schick, who also networked with a contact – a skilful ball relay, which the people of Cologne could only watch. But that’s not enough for the Werkself to 2-0 two minutes later.
Wirtz started the goals again when he danced out several opponents on the edge of the penalty area, played to Robert Andrich, who also passed on to the completely detached Bellarabi. The ex-international hit the ball with his first goal of the season unsustainable in the goal.
Frimpong gives away the 3-0
Especially with the very fast switching moments of the Bayer-Elf, Cologne could not cope with the further course. The FC almost conceded the 0: 3, but the too casual Jeremie Frimpong failed after another turbo attack from the best position on the crossbar.
Twice the Cologne reported, however, through the returned Jonas Hector (33rd / 44th) with a good long-range shot and a failed header.
Modeste very cool
The subsequent hit did not initially please. The mood in the stands remained at the top level, even if Leverkusen initially built on the strong first half. But the peat field on the other side. Perfect cross from Hector, Modeste calmly stopped and pushed in to make it 1: 2 – his fifth goal of the season. Now the FC fans celebrated like in the very best pre-Corona times. “We knew that if we scored a goal, the stadium would be there, and that’s how it turned out,” said FC captain Hector dryly.
The FC – led by its fans – suddenly put more pressure on themselves, also because Leverkusen are dying far too much back in the face of the melted leadership. The sun was still shining, but the game was now unrecognizable compared to the first half.
Leverkusen’s coach Gerardo Seoane tried to stop the trend of the game by making changes, but FC had long since taken control of the game – and was awarded. Sebastian Andersson extended a throw-in with his head, Modeste boiled Kossounou and scored again. The best carnival mood prevailed in the stands.
In the end, after this game, it was a success, especially for FC, and Leverkusen were served. “If you fall from 2-0 to 2-2 as the leading team in the derby, it feels like a defeat. We could lead 3-0, 4-0 through counter situations and then we switch off, that pisses me off” , scolded goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
FC now against Stuttgart, Bayer against Karlsruhe
FC will now face VfB Stuttgart in the second round of the cup on Wednesday (8.45 p.m.). In the league, the away game at Borussia Dortmund is on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Leverkusen will host the second division Karlsruher SC cup on Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. and VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday at 3.30 p.m.
Source: sportschau.de