Sieg in Cottbus!
By: klaus |
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Putting last weeks loss to ‘Gladbach in the Rheinische Derby behind them, die Geißböcke responded with an important 2-0 victory in Cottbus.
From last weeks starting eleven Christoph Daum brought in Kevin McKenna und Sergiu Raduauf for Nemanja Vučićević und Wilfried Sanou to face die Lausitzer. Köln went cautiously forward feeling out the tactical play of their opponents who showed more aggression early on. In the final fifteen minutes of the opening half Faryd Mondragón did well to hold off Energie and the match went to the break scoreless. The start of the second half went perfectly as only six minutes in Milivoje Novakovič found the back of the net as he sent a rebound for Petit’s drive to make it 1-0. Only five minutes later Der Cottbuser Çağdaş Atan was called for a questionable penalty and the referee Dr. Felix Brych pointed to the spot. Milivoje Novakovič easily converted and Köln had a 2-0 lead. For the balance of the match Cottbus surged forward with Timo Rost and Dimitar Rangelov coming close but once again, each was denied in route to a 2-0 victory.
The importance of the victory cannot be understated as it provides ample space from relegation. While many had doubted Geißböcke survival, this once and all should establish that the next climb isn’t for “safety” but for the top half of the table.
Photo Credit:1. Fußball Club Köln
Category: Team News
Rheinische Derby ends in defeat
By: klaus | Add Comments
The Rheinische derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach ended in a 4-2 defeat for die Geißböcke. It was the second consecutive loss for Christoph Daum and an unsettling trend after such a great start to the Rückrunde.
The match in many ways was Borussia’s from start to finish as they opened the scoring five minutes before the half hour as Marko Marin provided Michael Bradley to change the finish. Before the half Alexander Baumjohann was the creator for Karim Matmour goal and Köln faced a hurdle they couldn’t climb out of. Herr Daum adjusted at the half with Sergiu Radu and Manasseh Ishiaku and four minutes after the hour Miso Brecko brought the match within one. Yet three minutes later Rob Friend returned Borussia’s two goal margin. Fighting desperately for points Miso Brecko scored from fifteen metres with eight minutes left however that was as close as it would get Michael Bradley scored from the spot after Gal Alberman was brought down in the area by Kevin Pezzoni.
Disappointing yes but now die Geißböcke must turn to Cottbus on the weekend.
Category: Team Newsderby!
By: klaus | Add Comments
From November 1965, Köln – Borussia Mönchengladbach derby, legends for their sides Wolfgang Overath and Gladbach’s Günter Netzer.
The great derby, full of its rich history is here!
Photo Credit: Copyright: imago/Werner Otto
Category: Team NewsRückschlag
By: klaus | Add Comments
Die Geißböcke suffered a difficult to digest 1-0 loss to Schalke in Gelsenkirchen Friday evening. While it is a hard to pinpoint fault in the match Köln had ample opportunities to come out with a draw, if not a win and will rue poor finishing.
With Youssef Mohamad back in for Kevin McKenna die Geißböcke were showing quality defending in the early stages of the match. However less than a quarter of the hour in though the tide had turned and Schalke was commanding the run of play. Heiko Westermann’s athleticism was creating a series of problems and once the home side started to play wider, Köln’s defense opened up. Schalke’s first chance came as Jefferson Farfán’s free kick into the box was headed back by Westermann to Ivan Rakitić but Marvin Matip got in front of a high risk chance. Six minutes before the half hour Milivoje Novakovič struck a text-book free kick from thirty metres around the wall but it trailed off just too much to the left. The missed opportunity cost dearly as a few minutes later Schalke grabbed the lead taking advantage of a long channel attack. After Kevin Kurányi chased down a long ball, he provided the ball to Vicente Sánchez in the box. Sending a back heel to Ivan Rakitić, who then laid the ball back to Jermaine Jones, the score was quickly 1-0 as the German international fired into the net. Coming back quickly Petit’s speculative effort stung Schalke ‘keeper Manuel Neuer’s mitts but couldn’t find the needed mark. As the half wound down Faryd Mondragón saved Kurányi drive from the six yard box and while the rebound banged off the striker in, it was called back as a hand ball.
After the restart the situation changed considerably and Schalke no longer dictated play. In the first ten minutes Petit continued to create problems and five minutes in can close as his free kick was just sent off-course by Milivoje Novakovič. On the hour die Geißböcke should have leveled the match when Petit’s free kick was flicked the back post by Novakovič and from a metre out Youssef Mohamad forgot fundamentals and missed the ball. Needing attacking vision Christoph Daum sent for Taner Yalcin three minutes past the hour and only four minutes later Fabrice Ehret’s through ball to Milivoje Novakovič was saved with last minute work by Vicente Sánchez. Entering the match in the final stages, Kevin McKenna and Manasseh Ishiaku went looking for the equalizer and two minutes into added time Youssef Mohamad had another chance but again he couldn’t find the net as the sixth match unbeaten string ended with a 1-0 loss.
Category: Team NewsGeißböcke prey upon Schalke’s troubles
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It wasn’t too long ago that naysayers talked of Köln’s chances of being relegated as likely. Sitting mid of the table, die Geißböcke are unbeaten in the Rückrunde and the “critics” have disappeared as Christoph Daum has the team playing well-disciplined Football, with an ever increasing confidence.
Following the victory over Bayern München, the club responded with a strong performance against Arminia Bielefeld in which they dominated play but were simply unable to finish. Facing Schalke in Gelsenkirchen, Christoph Daum knows the intangible side of die Königsblauen as following their mid-week loss in the DFB-Pokal they will be anxious to win in front of their home fans and stem the general revolt.
Milivoje Novakovič returns and Herr Daum specifically singled out the service of Marvin Matip and Fabrice Ehret, who continued their superb work last week with a great week of practice. Stressing shape and disciplined defending Christoph Daum is very aware of Schalke’s potential and extra motivation for the match.
Photo Source: FC Köln(Herbert Bucco)
Category: Team NewsGeißböcke disappoint with draw
By: klaus | 1 Comment
The surge of last weeks 2-1 victory over Bayern München came to a bitter halt as die Geißböcke played a stubborn Arminia Bielefeld to a 1-1 draw. While talk of “dominating” a match mean little when it concludes level, the result is highly frustrating to Herr Daum as Köln should have come out with three points in this match.
After controlling the run of play die Geißböcke opened the scoring at the fifteenth minute when Marvin Matip sent a stunning long pass down the left channel to Fabrice Ehret, who then sent a perfectly placed cross for Portuguese international Petit to powerfully head in from just beyond the spot. The lust for goals continued with Fabrice Ehret’s free-kick denied by Arminen ‘keeper Dennis Eilhoff midway of the half and Nemanja Vučićević’s woeful finishing resulted in a round of missed opportunities starting at the half hour mark. With three minutes remaining before the break, Michael Frontzeck’s side made die Geißböcke pay for their wastage as a defensive miscue by Mišo Brečko played the ball to Chris Katongo who drove a curling ball into the net to bring the match level.
At the restart Köln’s attacking problems skyrocketed as Milivoje Novakovič was lost to an injury and the hosts were easily controlled going forward by a well disciplined Arminen side. Herr Frontzeck’s teaches a classic model of shape and form and not shy of grinding out tough draws and this is precisely what they did as the match concluded to a frustrating 1-1 draw. However die Geißböcke did have their chances with Nemanja Vučićević missing chance after chance, including one from inside the six yard box with less than five minutes remaining.
Category: Team NewsChristoph Daum urges Geißböcke to stay grounded
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Following last weeks 2-1 victory over Bayern München, Köln coach Christoph Daum is urging die Geißböcke to stay focused. Demanding a realistic vision towards the year, he emphasized the need for steady play against Arminia Bielefeld. Calling the win over a the Bavarian’s a “highlight”, he added, “we cannot either over-rate it or use it to measure ourselves.”
Concern over Arminia Bielefeld is warranted as they come out fighting since the start of the Rückrunde, upsetting Werder Bremen as well as holding top tier clubs Dortmund and Hertha BSC to draws. Christoph Daum called them one of the best teams in the league since the restart and will focus upon disciplined and patient play.
Pierre Wome and Ümit Özat are still out for die Geißböcke. Arminen will miss Rüdiger Kauf to suspension but also dealing with late decisions on goalkeepers Rowen Fernández and Dennis Eilhoff.
Category: Team NewsGeißböcke win in München
By: klaus | 1 Comment
Confident of winning points today, coach Christoph Daum delievered the goods as die Geißböcke defeated Bayern München today 2-1.
With Kevin McKenna in for Youssef Mohamad and Daniel Brosinski making his first Bundesliga appearance, Köln were ready for the Bavarians. Throughout the match, Bayern controlled the ball but could not break through the compact defending in the final third. However at the mid point of the opening half Nemanja Vučićević took advantage of the Mark van Bommel and provided Fabrice Ehret, who finished with a perfect chip over the Bavarian ‘keeper. Ten minutes before the break the Serbian international, Vučićević, provided for the next goal as well as he played the ball to Daniel Brosinski for the finish. Down by two, Bayern maintained ball possession but only until the later stages of the match were able to threaten. From the hour mark Zé Roberto, Franck Ribery and Miroslav Klose each tried to bring one back but goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón was up to the task. Finally with six minutes remaining Bayern broke through with Hamit Altintop’s cross being headed in by Daniel van Buyten but it was not enough as Köln won 2-1 in Christoph Daum 150th match in-charge of the club.
The victory causes die Geißböcke to climb above Werder for tenth in the table and only three points behind Schalke 04.
Category: Team NewsGeißböcke to München
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With draws in each of the three matches of the Rückrunde die Geißböcke venture to München with the utmost challenge of Bayern on Saturday afternoon. The results while not awe-inspiring have put the club on good course and established a firm base for next season with the early concerns of relegation in the past.
Prior to the match Christoph Daum noted his pleasure of weeks preparation and suggested that Köln will play more forward than they have in recent matches with, as he said, “We have a realistic (sense of) optimism”, and “it is not impossible to get something from the game.” Without a doubt, Herr Daum is aggressively looking for points tomorrow afternoon and taking nothing for granted.
For the match die Geißböcke will be without Youssef Mohamad as he is suspended with a buildup of yellow-cards and will have his defending spot served by Kevin McKenna. Both Pierre Wome and Adil Chihi continue to be miss due to injury. With the stated attacking intent, the key from Köln’s perspective will be directed at Milivoje Novakovič, Sergiu Radu and Nemanja Vučićević.
The Bavarians are coming off a 2-1 loss to Herlin BSC and while anxious to make a run for the top spot are likely to adjust their lineup as they play Sporting next Wednesday in the Champion League. Luca Toni is doubtful and Poldi is most likely to play against his future teammates.
Category: Team NewsKSC pushes for draw
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Confident from their victory last week over Hamburg, Karlsruher SC arrived in Köln focused on defeating die Geißböcke. However after ninety hard fought minutes the match ended without a score.
Köln started the match as the aggressor with Milivoje Novakovič heading Nemanja Vučićević’s cross wide seven minutes in but quickly KSC gained its footing and asserted itself. By the twentieth minute, Köln was on their heels and trying to hold back the determined visitors. Both Sergiu Radu and Milivoje Novakovič had opportunities to break the deadlock before the break but each effort was off target.
Then minutes after the break Fabrice Ehret’s cross found Milivoje Novakovič but his header flew over the bar. On the hour, Köln was lucky when KSC’s Christian Timm close range went off the post. The hosts almost snatched a winner in the 75th minute but Karlsruhe goalkeeper, Markus Miller did well to catch Miso Brecko’s 14-yard effort. Die Geißböcke had a number of opportunities through the eightieth minute including Miso Brecko’s chance from in from box but again they drifted wide. KSC pressured late but Faryd Mondragón came up big and saved the draw.
Category: Team News
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