1st FC Köln faced a significant defeat against SV Darmstadt 98, losing 5-1 in the 2nd Bundesliga. This loss dropped Köln to eighth in the standings, while Darmstadt climbed to 13th. Despite Köln having the highest goal tally in the league, their defense is vulnerable, allowing 17 goals. Goals from Fraser Hornby, Isac Lindberg, Philipp Förster, and Aleksander Vukotic secured the win for Darmstadt, with Tim Lemperle scoring Köln’s only goal. Both teams aim for improvement in their upcoming matches.
1st FC Köln faced another disheartening defeat in the 2nd Bundesliga, losing decisively to SV Darmstadt 98 with a score of 1:5 (1:2).
This loss on Friday pushed Cologne down to eighth place in the standings, while Darmstadt climbed to 13th. Despite scoring 21 goals, the highest in Bundesliga 2, Cologne struggles with defensive weaknesses, having conceded 17 goals—worse than many teams in the lower part of the table.
Fraser Hornby netted two goals (11th and 40th minutes), along with contributions from Isac Lindberg (54th minute), Philipp Förster (65th minute), and Aleksander Vukotic (90+3 minutes) for the ‘Lilies.’ Tim Lemperle had briefly equalized for Köln in the 38th minute.
Cologne defender Timo Hübers expressed his frustration post-match, stating, “We had a really bad day. Darmstadt clearly outplayed us with their counter-attacking strength, physicality, and power.” Head coach Gerhard Struber echoed these sentiments: “We simply didn’t meet the basic standards required to win here. It’s frustrating when performances fall short.”
Darmstadt coach Florian Kohfeldt commented on ARD radio that his side executed their game plan effectively in critical moments, remarking, “We still need a lot of wins this year.” Notably, Darmstadt has only lost one of their last five matches, asserting, “It’s tough to beat us right now.”
Cologne Equalizes but Darmstadt Responds
Köln fell behind early in the 11th minute due to a series of defensive blunders, failing to maintain adequate coverage in their penalty area. The initial goal stemmed from a misfired shot by Förster that set up Hornby for the opener.
Förster nearly extended Darmstadt’s lead with a volley that hit the post in the 32nd minute, but Köln quickly countered. Luca Waldschmidt found Linton Maina on the left flank, whose squared pass led to Lemperle’s equalizer in the 38th minute.
However, Darmstadt responded just before halftime: Isac Lindberg dribbled past Köln’s Timo Hübers and laid it off for Hornby, who scored again in the 40th minute. Förster almost made it 3:1 in stoppage time, but Köln keeper Jonas Urbig made a crucial save.
Darmstadt Capitalizes on Köln’s Defensive Vulnerabilities
After the break, Köln started stronger but remained vulnerable to quick counterattacks. Darmstadt exploited this after a corner for Köln, quickly transitioning through a series of passes led by Corredor and Hornby, culminating in Lindberg’s goal from a slight deflection at 54 minutes.
Next, FC Köln will face SC Paderborn on Friday, October 25, 2024, at 18:30, followed by a DFB Cup match against Holstein Kiel. Darmstadt will host SSV Ulm on the same day and then take on Dynamo Dresden in the cup.