FC Köln and RB Leipzig draw 1-1 in action-packed game
Anthony Modeste gives Köln the lead (53') | Amadou Haidara equalises (71') | Two offside goals for each side | Nkunku denied by the woodwork
1. FC Köln and RB Leipzig shared four offside goals, two goals and appoint apiece on Saturday, as the two sides battled to a 1-1 draw. Anthony Modeste had a hand in two strikes that were chalked off for offside, while RBL also saw a pair of goals ruled out. It was third time lucky for Modeste as he opened the scoring, before Amadou Haidara equalised from a corner.
The 25,000 fans in the sold-out RheinEnergieSTADION were treated to a fast-paced game between two teams that were both going for victory. The ball was in the back of the net in the fifth minute thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside. At the other end, it was a similar picture for the home side. Christopher Nkunku and Ondrej Duda also each hit the post for their respective teams. Despite the end-to-end action, we headed into the break goalless.
It was a similar story after the change of ends. Modeste saw a goal ruled out for offside, but just a few minutes later he was legitimately on the scoresheet. After a lengthy VAR review, referee Felix Byrch overturned the original decision to rule out the goal for a foul on Mohamed Simakan and awarded the goal.
Emil Forsberg thought he had equalised with his first goal of the season but this too was ruled out for offside. Amadou Haidara finally equalised in the 71st minute with a header off the underside of the bar. After that, RBL looked the more promising side and had chances to take the lead through Yussuf Poulsen, Christopher Nkunku and Emil Forsberg. In the final minute what was a spectacular, fast-paced, clash, each side had big chances to take all three points but opportunities at each end went unused.
Statistics:
RB LEIPZIG XI:
Gulácsi (C) - Simakan, Orban, Haidara (85' Adams), Klostermann, Szoboszlai, Nkunku, Olmo (58' Emil Forsberg), Gvardiol, Silva (58' Poulsen), Kampl
Bench: Martínez - Angeliño, Poulsen, Forsberg, Adams, Brobbey, Mukiele, Laimer, Henrichs
1. FC KÖLN XI:
Horn - Schmitz (82' Özcan) , Czichos (31' Meré), Ljubicic, Uth (68' Ehizibue), Hector (C), Kilian, Duda, Modeste (68' Andersson), Skhiri, Thielmann (82' Schindler)
Bench: Schwäbe - Hübers, Özcan, Andersson, Schindler, Ehizibue, Schaub, Meré, Ostrak
REFEREE:
Dr. Felix Brych (Munich)
YELLOW CARDS:
Czichos (1. FC Köln), Klostermann (RB Leipzig), Meré (1. FC Köln), Schmitz (1. FC Köln)
ATTENDANCE:
25.000 (sell out) | RheinEnergieSTADION
A look in the dressing rooms
First half highlights:
1st minute: Kick off in front of 25,000 fans in Cologne. Let’s go, RBL!
4th minute: First big chance for RBL! After winning possession in midfield, the team look to attack quickly and Christo Nkunku delivers from wide towards the penalty spot. Dani Olmo shoots just wide of the post.
5th minute: Third offside goal in three games. This time, Dominik Szoboszlai is the victim. Our number 17 receives the ball from Silva and slots into the bottom corner, but a VAR intervention shows a fractional offside.
8th minute: Woodwork RBL! After a hat trick against Man City mid week, Christo is on the hunt again and tries a long shot from outside the area. Goalkeeper Horn is beaten, but the ball strikes the post.
11th minute: This time, it’s Köln’s turn to hit the post. Ondrej Duda’s hits a volley from the edge of the area and is denied by the woodwork.
16th minute: Dominik Szoboszlai calls Horn into action with a free kick from around 20 metres.
25th minute: Dani Olmo tries his luck from distance but Horn pushes his shot away for a corner.
36th minute: Köln celebrate – Modeste plays a square ball across goal and Uth turns home from close range. However, the pair were offside in the build up and the flag is up.
44th minute: Jonas Hector tests Péter Gulácsi, but our captain makes no mistake of the low shot.
45th minute: Half time! Chances at both ends, but we head into the break goalless.
Second half highlights:
46th minute: The two sides emerge unchanged for the second half.
48th minute: End-to-end again! Klostermann misses narrowly from a corner, before Pete denies Jan Thielmann at the other end.
50th minute: Anthony Modeste heads over the bar for Köln.
51st minute: Another offside goal for the hosts! It’s Modeste with the ball in the net, but it wont stand.
53rd minute: Goal for Köln. The ball skews its way across the area and lands at Modeste, who hits it powerfully first time and into the back of the net off the crossbar. Referee Felix Byrch initially disallows the goal for a foul on Simakan, before a VAR intervention. Byrch reviews the footage and after a long look, awards the goal.
64th minute: Substitute Emil Forsberg with a left-footed shot that is too central. No problem for Horn.
65th minute: Forsberg finds fellow substitute Poulsen in the area, but he can’t hit the target.
66th minute: Offside goal RBL! Unbelievable! Some quick feet from Christo find space in a tight area in the box, before Forbserg takes the ball and curls one into the far corner. A VAR check confirms another fractional offside!
71st minute: GOAL FOR RBL! Finally – and this one stands! Szoboszlai’s cross is met by a leaping Amadou Haidara at the front post. His header crashes in off the underside of the crossbar!
72nd minute: Big chance for the lead! Nkunku finds himself in space on the edge of the area, but his shot is deflected for a corner by Jorge Meré.
81st minute: Yussuf Poulsen receives a knock down from Simakan and hits a powerful strike at goal, but it’s too central and is no problem for Horn.
90th minute: No way! Dominik Szoboszlai with a fantastic chance to give RBL the lead as he bears down on goal. But somehow, Horn pulls off a save to deflect wide.
90+3rd minute: Danger! Sebsatian Andersson suddenly finds himself free to break down the right and fortunately for RBL, shoots directly at Gulácsi. The rebound lands right at the feet of Duda, who is caught out and is unable to turn the ball home from just yards out. Pete seizes possession.
90+4th minute: Full time in Cologne! Six goals – two count in the end! Köln and Leipzig share a point each in a 1-1 draw.