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FC Köln - FCK

The long-awaited day had finally come – 1,560 days after their last Bundesliga 1 match on Mai 13, 2006, the Red Devils are back in the top flight. On August 21, 2010, Marco Kurz’s squad kicked off the new campaign with a road game in Cologne.

FCK boss Kurz made two changes to the squad which chalked up a 3-2 victory over VfL Osnabrück in last week’s DFB Cup game, naming Erwin Hoffer and Jan Moravek to replace Micanski and Amri. Kurz opted to start with a 4-4-2 formation consisting of a flat back four comprising Bugera, Rodnei, Amedick and Dick, with Bilek and Moravek anchoring central midfield. Tiffert and Kirch appeared on the flanks, with Lakic alongside Hoffer up front.

Once referee Felix Brych whistled play underway on a hot and sunny afternoon at the Rhein Energie Stadium, the 49,200 capacity crowd saw the home side roar off the blocks with Novakovic warming Sippel’s gloves after barely 40 seconds. The Red Devils fought right back creating a direct counter attack, but Hoffer was stopped by a harsh foul through Köln’s Mohamad after being clear through. Referee Brych did not hesitate but sent off Mohamad with only two minutes on the clock. However, Florian Dick’s free-kick thundered into the wall.

The atmosphere at the Rhein Energie Stadium, which was completely colored red, was overwhelming and the home side had reason to cheer as Novakovic capitalized on sloppy work by Tobi Sippel putting his team in the lead on eight minutes. With 1. FC Köln being one man down, FC head coach Soldo was forced to react and replaced Yalcin by Pezzoni in midfield. The Red Devils reacted admirably to the setback as they created the next chance bravely searching for the immediate equalizer.

Midway through the half, the home side dominated the action on the pitch pressuring for the second goal. However, FCK’s defensive unit around team captain Amedick did a good job preventing the hosts from extending their lead. At the other end, Lakic released Hoffer into open space feeding the Austrian forward with a neat pass, but Hoffer was unable to control the ball.

With 29 minutes on the clock, Kirch had the chance to pull one back, but failed to make use of Hoffer’s clear-cut cross. 60 seconds later, Jan Moravek sent a thundering long-shot over the bar. Kurz’s men acted more agile now, searching for the equalizer with Moravek firing another long-shot on goal from 25 yards.

At the other end, Sippel had lots of work to do as the hosts created a series of dangerous attacks forcing the FCK shot-stopper to perform heroics as Petit and Podolski were unable to convert. On 38 minutes, the hosts really should have scored the 2-0, but Sippel pulled out a stunning reaction to save a clear-cut shot by Petit.

That left the Red Devils 45 minutes to fight back from a one-goal deficit and capitalize on their numerical advantage. Marco Kurz replaced Oliver Kirch by Ivo Ilicevic and Bugera by Jessen. Bilek creating the first chance seconds after the restart, but his shot only hit the side netting. Moravek displayed a nice give-and-go with Florian Dick on the right just to see Dick’s shot fly wide. Nevertheless, the Red Devils enhanced the pace in search for the equalizer.

Marco Kurz’s side swiftly gained control of the happenings on the pitch with sub Jessen enhancing the pressure on the left side dancing his way through the home side‘s defence once and again. Martin Amedick forced Mondragon to perform heroics as the tall defender fired a shot on goal after 66 minutes. At the other end, Sippel saved capably from Jajalo.

The 7,000 supporters on the FCK fan stand were finally rewarded for their outstanding support as Srdjan Lakic buried the ball in the net putting his team back in the game after 70 minutes. Motivated by the equalizer as well as their numerical advantage, the Red Devils started a furious assault on the home goal with Ilicevic firing a thundering shot into the side netting. Amedick caught a Tiffert free-kick, but his header flew over the crossbar.

Six minutes from time, Ilicevic gave four opponents the run-around as he danced his way through the home defence and hammered the ball on target just to see the ball hit the post. However, the effort paid off as Lakic completed his brace from the rebound. And it was Ivo Ilicevic who secured the win three minutes from time as he fired the ball past Mondragon from a clear-cut Tiffert cross crowing the Red Devils’ successful Bundesliga kick off with a merited 3-1 victory.