The Bundesliga relegated team goes down to Darmstadt 98 and is shown off at times. In Berlin, however, a wild game is developing – with a bizarre scene.
A very bitter setback for 1. FC Köln in the 2nd Bundesliga: The relegated team suffered a heavy 1:5 (1:2) defeat at Darmstadt 98 at the start of the 9th matchday and is therefore stuck in the lower midfield for the time being. Fraser Hornby with a brace (11th, 40th), Isac Lidberg (54th), Philipp Förster (65th) and Aleksandar Vukotic (90th + 4) scored for the “Lilien”, Tim Lemperle (38th) only scored the interim goal for the Rhinelanders.
Hornby took advantage of Darmstadt’s second good opportunity to take a 1-0 lead with a well-placed low shot from twelve meters. Cologne then had more possession of the ball, but were unable to create top-class opportunities against cleverly defending hosts. From a counterattack, the Domstadt team managed to equalize through Lemperle, but Hornby quickly took the lead again for the South Hesse team against the guests who seemed unsorted.
Shortly before halftime, Linton Maina (42′) missed the equalizer again, Hornby missed the third goal for Darmstadt (45’+2). But the hosts were undeterred and Lidberg extended the lead shortly after the break with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Against Cologne, who now had to risk even more, Förster and Vukotic increased the result even further.
In the second game on Friday evening, Hertha BSC fought for a 3-1 (0-1) home win against Eintracht Braunschweig in a wild game. Levente Szabo (38′) had given the guests the lead, and the Berliners turned the game around with penalty kicks from Michael Cuisance (54′) and Ibrahim Maza (72′). Florian Niederlechner (83rd) then made everything clear.
Hertha controlled the action and let the ball flow well within their own ranks without becoming dangerous. The guests switched to the counterattack and quickly got to the Berlin penalty area after Kevin Sessa lost the ball. Fabio Kaufmann let Marton Dardai out with a feint and passed from the right to the middle, where Szabo finished.
A strange mistake by Braunschweig’s goalkeeper Lennart Grill caused a stir, which led to the first penalty for Hertha: Grill completely misjudged the run out and then brought down Cuisance as he stormed past. Referee Robin Braun gave a penalty – and showed Grill the red card. 18 minutes later, Maza turned the game around with the second penalty. Niederlechner, who had been substituted shortly before, had previously been fouled in the penalty area. The veteran also made the final score in the 83rd minute.