Great fight on the pitch, great atmosphere in the stands, but Cologne qualify for the group stage

We did everything we could to qualify, but the German team won the return leg by three goals and qualified for the group stage of the Conference Europa League.

A fantastic atmosphere greeted Vidi and 1. FC Köln in the MOL Arena Sósto - the camp of the two teams conjured up a whole day of football in Székesfehérvár. Michael Boris made no changes to the Cologne winning team, so the eleven of Kovács - Nego, Larsen, Stopira, Sabanov, Hangya - Funsho, Rúben Pinto, Fiola, Dárdai - Zivzivadze took to the pitch and were praised at the German team's press conference on Wednesday.

The game started in the 6th minute with a shot from Kainz, then Funsho's cross was just missed by Zivzivadze. In the 10th minute the Germans took the lead - Hübers rose highest from a corner kick and headed the ball into the net with great power (0-1). After the goal the visitors had more possession, but no big chances were recorded until the 37th minute, when Kainz's powerful shot from distance was saved by Kovács. Two minutes later, Vidi fans could get excited, but after Pinto's free kick, Palkó Dárdai headed wide of the Cologne goal, and the half ended with the visitors leading 1-0.

At the break, Szilveszter Ant was replaced by Marcel Heister. The half started very badly for us, practically in the first minute Cologne scored, after a corner Skhiri bombed into our goal from 8 meters (0-2). Five minutes later our goalkeeper saved Martel's shot, and in the 54th minute Dárdai was brought down inside the penalty area, but the referee waved play on.

A minute after the previous chance, Zivzivadze shot from close range after Dárdai's solo shot, Schwabe saved with great bravura! In the 63rd minute Funsho and Rúben Pinto were replaced by Bumba and Kodro. About seventy minutes into the match, Zivzivadze gymnastically beat Schwabe, who once again proved that he is no accident in the top league.

The Vidi camp was constantly cheering the team on, the Cologne team defended with self-sacrifice, and Bumba and Nego's shots were met with hockey moves. In the 87th minute, Bumba also made a big save on a Cologne cross from the left. In the injury time, the referee sent off 1. FC Köln head coach Steffen Baumgart for complaining. In extra time, substitute Schindler also scored with a header (0-3). The team put up a tremendous fight, and the fans in the stands were also very supportive, but Bundesliga side Cologne qualified for the group stage. 

Author: David Rechnitzer

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