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Maina’s Strike Lifts Köln Away From Bundesliga Relegation Zone
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A decisive goal from Linton Maina secured a vital victory for 1. FC Köln against VfL Wolfsburg, temporarily easing their relegation concerns in a tightly contested Bundesliga match. Despite a dominant first-half performance, Köln had to withstand a relentless Wolfsburg attack in the second half to preserve the 1-0 lead.
The match, played on February 17th, was a crucial encounter for both teams, each desperate to climb out of the relegation battle. However, the urgency was far more apparent in Köln’s play during the opening 45 minutes. Manager Lukas Kwasniok made two changes to the starting lineup compared to the previous match against SC Freiburg,bringing in Özkacar and martel in place of van den Berg and Thielmann.
Wolfsburg, meanwhile, underwent three changes following their 3-1 defeat to 1. FSV Mainz 05. Notably, Amoura was absent from the VfL squad due to disciplinary reasons, with Majer taking his place in attacking midfield. Arnold also returned to the starting eleven after serving a yellow card suspension, and Fischer replaced Kumbedi.
Maina Breaks the Deadlock
The home side quickly established control, repeatedly driving into the final third while Wolfsburg struggled to mount any cohesive attacks. In the 18th minute, Ache had a promising header, but Wolfsburg goalkeeper Grabara managed to make the save. Just eleven minutes later, Linton Maina broke the deadlock, firing a low shot past the right post to give Köln a 1-0 advantage in the 29th minute.
Even with the lead, Köln continued to press, while Wolfsburg showed limited attacking intent in the first half. Wimmer had a chance in the 37th minute after a one-two with Eriksen, but his shot sailed over the bar. A senior official noted that the Köln team “should have been further ahead” at halftime, referencing missed opportunities from Ache and others.
Wolfsburg’s Second-Half Push Falls Short
The introduction of Shiogai for Majer and Daghim for Vinicius Souza at the start of the second half sparked a change in Wolfsburg’s approach.The visitors gained control of the duels and began to dictate the tempo. They created their first significant chance in the 59th minute, but Pejcinovic’s attempt went astray.
Despite Wolfsburg’s improved performance, Köln managed to create a counterattacking opportunity through Maina in the 68th minute. However, the second half largely belonged to the visitors, who relentlessly pursued an equalizer.
The final stages of the match saw Wolfsburg launch wave after wave of attacks, but their finishing proved woefully inadequate. Daghim squandered a golden opportunity in the 73rd minute, opting for a complex move instead of a straightforward shot, ultimately being blocked. pejcinovic missed a chance from the edge of the penalty area in the 87th minute, Shiogai failed to beat Schwäbe from close range in the 92nd minute, and Daghim once again demonstrated poor decision-making in the 95th minute with a wayward shot. El Mala also missed a late chance in the 96th minute.
According to post-match analysis, Köln’s victory was somewhat fortunate, as Wolfsburg generated enough chances to secure a draw. The win temporarily lifts Köln eight points clear of the relegation zone.Köln will continue their campaign next Sunday, February 25th, with a home match against Leipzig. Wolfsburg will face Dortmund at home the day before, on February 24th, at the same time (3:30 p.m
