In the Bundesliga relegation battle, 1. FC Cologne secured an extremely important victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. The key points of the game were two Frankfurt players being sent off.
In front of 50,000 spectators in the sold-out Cologne stadium, FC defeated Frankfurt Eintracht 2-0 (0-0) on Saturday evening (February 3, 2024). Faride Alidou (68th minute) and Jan Thielmann (80th) caused boundless euphoria among the Cologne fans with their goals. The yellow-red card from Frankfurt’s Niels Nkounkou (66th) tipped the game in favor of the Geißbock club. His colleague Tuta (83rd) also had to leave the pitch early after a foul.
Despite the first threesome under coach Timo Schultz, Cologne remains in the relegation zone. Frankfurt, sixth in the table, is already six points behind fourth place in the Champions League.
To the live ticker: Cologne – Frankfurt arrow right 20th matchday arrow right
Frankfurt had its three additions to the squad. Donny van de Beek and Hugo Ekitiké were on the bench at kick-off, while Sasa Kalajdzic was in the starting line-up. There are no new players at FC because of the transfer ban. But after the 1-1 draw in Wolfsburg last weekend, Cologne had new hope in the relegation battle. And they started right away. After less than a minute of play, Jan Thielmann tested SGE goalkeeper Kevin Trapp with a shot from the left corner – but the Cologne player was offside. In the fifth minute, Dejan Ljubicic sent a side kick well over the goal.
Strong save from Trapp
Coach Schultz’s team demonstrated absolute determination and dominated the initial phase. Frankfurt took a wait-and-see approach, looked for playful solutions and only got in front of the Cologne goal after 20 minutes. The skilful Thielmann (14th) missed the huge chance to give Cologne the lead when he entered the penalty area on the left and took a shot – Trapp just got his hand on the ball and flicked it to the corner.
Nesrin Elnabolsy, sports show, February 3rd, 2024 8:51 p.m
Frankfurt’s first real chance didn’t come until the 28th minute. After a corner from Mario Götze, Robin Koch headed the ball past the right post from close range. Overall, SGE coach Dino Toppmöller was anything but satisfied with his team’s anemic and strangely passive performance. It was hardly noticeable that Eintracht had more possession of the ball than Cologne.
Cologne plus opportunities
Before the Frankfurt goal, however, the weakest offensive in the league once again revealed its well-known problems. After a pass from Max Finkgräfe, Ljubicic (39th) chased the ball well over the goal from 18 meters. Immediately afterwards, Frankfurt had its second opportunity: After a buttery chip from Götze, Ellyes Skhiri was denied by Marvin Schwäbe from 13 meters to the right. Since Ljubicic (45th) also placed a long-range shot just next to the Frankfurt goal, the team went into the dressing room without being hit. Cologne has had an increase in chances so far, the SGE was more mature in terms of play.
Schwäbe prevents residue
Immediately after the restart, the fans showered gold coins onto the field, which has now become obligatory – in protest against the DFL’s planned investor deal. After a few minutes delay, the game then picked up speed again. FC keeper Schwäbe was the center of attention when he fished the ball out of the corner after a free kick from around 25 meters from substitute Farès Chaïbi (52nd). Frankfurt was now significantly more awake than in the first round. The Frenchman followed up six minutes later and his goal was rightly disallowed for offside.
Yellow-red for Nkounkou, Alidou the hero
Then the people of Cologne suddenly turned up the heat again. Niels Nkounkou (62′) cleared a cross from the left at the second post in front of Alidou, who was ready to shoot. Then a deflected shot from Denis Huseinbašić whizzed past the Frankfurt goal. After Alidou made an unnecessary stop on the right in front of the baseline, Nkounkou (66th) had to leave the field with a yellow-red card. And two minutes later, Alidou directed a shot from Ljubicic from close range into the Frankfurt goal that was unstoppable for Trapp.
And again yellow-red against the SGE
Ten minutes before the end of regular time, FC countered quickly. After a pass from Ljubicic, Thielmann sank the ball to the right from 13 meters to make the preliminary decision. When Tuta was sent off with a yellow-red card after elbowing Julian Chabot in the face, there was finally a carnival atmosphere in the Cologne stadium. Linton Maina even missed the 3-0 in stoppage time (90th + 3).
Cologne at TSG, Frankfurt against Bochum
For Cologne, Carnival Sunday (February 11, 204, 5:30 p.m.) continues at 1899 Hoffenheim. Eintracht Frankfurt faces VfL Bochum at home the day before at 3:30 p.m.