33rd matchday: Late madness: Cologne hopes and puts Union in great trouble

1. FC Köln fought their way to a final to stay in the league with last-minute madness and finally dragged Union Berlin into this nerve-wracking thriller.

After a 0-2 deficit, Cologne won against Berlin 3-2 (1-2) and moved within three points of Union before the last matchday. The change of coach from Nenad Bjelica to Marco Grote didn’t bring anything for the capital city team.

Cologne now needs a win in Heidenheim and a Berlin home defeat against Freiburg in coach Christian Streich’s last game, one of them with a difference of at least two goals.

So the first Bundesliga champion, whose historic title celebrated its 60th anniversary two days before the game, can still hope. And Union still has to tremble to avoid being the first German club to be relegated as a Champions League participant in the same season. After six previous relegations, Cologne came back four times in the first year and twice in the second year. Since the FIFA transfer ban also applies in the summer and the Cologne team cannot buy players but can only bring back those on loan, this time the return would probably be more difficult than ever.

Union Berlin scores at the first opportunity

Central defender Robin Knoche, who replaced the injured former Cologne player Kevin Vogt, headed Union into the lead in the 15th minute. Ex-Leverkusen player Kevin Volland added a hand penalty just four minutes later. Cologne captain Florian Kainz shortened the score with a penalty kick (45th). After Steffen Tigges’ equalizer in the 87th minute, another joker, Damion Downs, scored the FC to an unbelievable victory in the third minute of stoppage time and turned the Cologne stadium into a madhouse.

Cheered on by their fans, who sang almost constantly and loudly, the Cologne team seemed determined from the first second to want to use their last chance. As is so often the case, despite all their efforts, there was initially no significant scoring opportunity. And then the Berliners used the first successful offensive action and the first corner to score. There was no need for a sophisticated variant. After a corner from Christopher Trimmel, Knoche simply headed in unguarded by Timo Hübers.

For a short time it was quiet in the stadium. Then the fans got up – but not the team. Around two minutes later, after the next corner from the right, Danilo Doekhi prevailed in an aerial duel against Jeff Chabot and Faride Alidou involuntarily stopped the ball with his outstretched arm.

Unusually, referee Deniz Aytekin was greeted with applause by the Cologne fans before the game. According to the pictures and given the current hand rule, he had no choice but to award a penalty. Volland hit the middle of the goal and Cologne straight into the heart. Especially since ex-national player Luca Waldschmidt had to leave the field immediately afterwards.

Downs puts the stadium in a state of emergency

Disillusionment set in and the game sputtered along. But then Berlin gifts and a penalty brought hope back to Cologne. Rani Khedira wrestled Hübers to the ground after a corner, Aytekin whistled and Kainz converted.

Cologne coach Timo Schultz tried everything during the break with two substitutions and a system change. Alidou also had a great chance, but wasted it (50′). Cologne continued to give everything and press. For a long time there was a lack of resources against what was at best a solid Berlin team.

And so the first whistles were heard in the last quarter of an hour. But then Tigges scored and there were still three minutes plus stoppage time. And in that Downs pushed the ball over the line. The stadium became a madhouse, but Cologne’s hope still lives on.