A goal in injury time by Jona Niemiec gave Fortuna Düsseldorf a 2:2 (1:1) draw in the derby against 1. FC Cologne. The leaders of the 2. Bundesliga remain unbeaten, while Cologne are struggling again.
“We dominated and controlled the game, but we didn’t seal the deal. And that’s a really bitter point, because we deserved more,” said Cologne coach Gerhard Struber. Fortuna coach Daniel Thioune, however, commented: “It’s a cool feeling for me, I’m happy about the point.”
Cologne was not only the better team, but also took the lead twice thanks to goals from Eric Martel (21st minute) and Linton Maina (61st). Nevertheless, in the end it was not enough for a win, as was the case last week in the 1:2 home defeat against 1. FC Magdeburg.
Niemiec (90th +5) and Emmanuel Iyoha (25th) scored to secure the hosts a flattering point in what was only the fifth Rhine derby between the two clubs in the 2nd division.
Cologne had good chances early on, but it was Martel who was able to beat the good Fortuna goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier with a header after a poorly defended cross. The lead did not last long, however. Four minutes later, Iyoha scored to make it 1:1 and Dawid Kownacki (27′) almost turned the game around completely. After that, however, things mostly went in the other direction.
Cologne chances every minute
Cologne pushed for a second goal and had numerous good chances – sometimes every minute. Maina managed to regain the lead with a shot into the far corner. But in a hectic final phase, Düsseldorf rose up and celebrated the equaliser and the point thanks to Niemiec.
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“I don’t know if it was a Sunday shot, a trick shot or a coincidence – probably the latter,” said Cologne’s sports director Christian Keller.
After Niemiec’s cross from the right, the ball flew in a high arc over FC goalkeeper Jonas Urbig and into the net. The goalscorer admitted: “The original plan was to cross. But then I saw the ball flying and thought: yes, yes, it could… and then it was in and it was pure emotion.”
Things were quiet between the fan groups. The police reported in an initial assessment: Until Saturday afternoon, everything was largely quiet and peaceful in the area surrounding this high-risk game. According to the police, there were no major incidents or problems.
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