Status: 8:39 p.m
No winner between Bochum and Cologne. The promoted team delivers a great fight and equalizes in the second half. The highlight of the game was once again provided by Cologne striker Anthony Modeste.
BIterated out of the cup, little consolation in the Bundesliga – a meager week with three games without a win has thrown 1. FC Köln off the path to success so far. Four days after losing the penalty drama against Hamburger SV and a week after the home defeat against FC Bayern (0:4), coach Steffen Baumgart’s team had to settle for a happy 2:2 at VfL Bochum.
Although the team remained undefeated in the fifth away game in a row, they missed a closer approach to the European Cup places despite a 2-1 half-time lead through goals from Timo Hübers (36th) and Anthony Modeste (45th). In front of 750 spectators, Bochum’s goalscorers Gerit Holtmann (25th) and Takuma Asano (70th) made sure the promoted team earned a deserved draw.
Anthony Modeste (M) scores with a great lob for the interim Cologne leadership
Source: Getty Images/Christof Koepsel
Bochum, who, in contrast to the guests, started the game with a tailwind after beating Mainz in the round of 16, were close to 1-0 early on. But the shot from Milos Pantovic (6th), who has recently gained a reputation as an art shooter after various goals worth seeing, was blocked by the FC defense in dire need.
Only after around 20 largely passive minutes did Cologne also intensify their offensive game, but missed their first good opportunity through Modeste (23rd). That wasn’t a wake-up call for the team, just two minutes later FC were 1-0 down. Holtmann skilfully completed a counterattack via Bochum’s new signing Jürgen Locadia with a shot through the legs of keeper Schwäbe.
Bochum is the better team
A goal out of nowhere brought the Baumgart team back into play. After a corner from Florian Kainz and brief confusion in the previously solid VfL defence, Hübers was there from ten meters and ensured the Cologne team’s happy equaliser. But that’s not all: just before half-time, Modeste turned the game upside down. After a pass from Kainz, the FC goalscorer gave Bochum keeper Manuel Riemann no chance with a sensitive lob.
Even after the restart, Bochum kept the pressure on and pushed for the equaliser. But Eduard Löwen (53rd) missed the great opportunity to ensure a fairer score up to that point. After a pass from Pantovic, the free-standing midfielder shot the ball over the goal from around ten meters. The Cologne team primarily limited themselves to their defensive work – and this passivity was punished. Substitute Takuma defeated FC keeper Schwäbe with a low shot into the far corner.
