Kiel misses promotion
What was going on? 1. FC Köln saves itself in crazy relegation final
Cologne’s captain Jonas Hector went ahead once more
© Carmen Jaspersen / DPA
This relegation final was very different than expected. 1. FC Köln avoided relegation thanks to furious opening minutes. Holstein Kiel, on the other hand, missed promotion to the Bundesliga.
One of the most important Rhenish proverbs is: “Et hätt noch immer jot jejange.”That it would be good for 1. FC Köln again this season, but that had recently believed less and less fans. But in the all-important relegation second leg against Holstein Kiel, the Geißböcke scored goal after goal and still kept the class. Already in a furious initial phase, they set the course for a 5:1 victory.
34 tough match days, the “Effzeh” had previously tormented by this so fan – as joyless Corona season. Only a late goal on the last matchday against non-competitive Schalker had given them the opportunity to keep their class above the relegation zone. The first leg against Kiel was lost in a low-chance game with 0: 1.
Four goals in twelve minutes
And then that: After just two minutes, Captain Jonas Hector sunk the ball into the Kiel goal for the first time. A few seconds later, Kiels Jae-Sung Lee answered with the equalizer. But then it was Cologne’s turn again. Sebastian Andersson, who has already been labelled a sports invalid because of his damaged knee, scored twice – after 13 minutes it was 3-1. When the centre-back Rafael Czichos, not exactly known for dream goals, scored the same before the break, the game was almost decided.
Shortly before the end, Ellyes Skhiri also scored 5:1, and so FC coach Friedhelm Funkel could already think of his return to retirement relaxed. He had interrupted this especially for the mission class maintenance – and for lack of leisure alternatives in the Corona year-for a few games on the sidelines. After the relegations of Werder Bremen and Schalke 04, the third threatened traditional club is thus spared the gang in League 2 this season.
Kiel misses history
The Kiel, on the other hand, who were even allowed to play in front of fans again in the last home game, end a strong season with a bitter disappointment. Although the team had to be quarantined twice due to corona cases-and in the end had a packed schedule through catch – up games-the first promotion in the club’s history is very narrowly missed. With a victory on one of the last two regular match days, the storks could have even made the direct ascent clear. But they lost both times – and in the end they probably ran out of air against Cologne.
Also in the Cup, the second division club had marched to the semi-finals, had even thrown out the Bavarians, before they failed at the later winner Borussia Dortmund. After all: The Kiel players do not have to do without sonorous opponents next season. In the 2nd league they will meet Schalke 04, Werder Bremen, Hamburger SV and St. Pauli, among others.
