Openda at the double! RBL celebrates 5-1 win in Cologne

Victory in the Domstart!

RB Leipzig celebrated a dominant 5-1 win at 1. FC Köln to kick off matchday 26 of the Bundesliga Friday.

Xavi gave RBL the lead in the fifteenth minute after a great assist from Benjamin Sesko. Alone in front of the Köln goalkeeper, our number 20 kept his nerve and rolled it into the corner. The lead only lasted three minutes, though, when Sargis Adamyan equalized after a corner (18').

Lois Openda nearly regained the lead just minutes later but was just offside, while Sesko (31') and Dani Olmo (36') put shots just off target. RB Leipzig went into the half on a high when Olmo hit the post and Openda was just kept out by the Köln goalkeeper.

But it was was Lois Openda who drove RBL to victory with a second-half brace (63', 67'). Amadou Haidara scored from distance, while substitute Yussuf Poulsen made it five just a few minutes before the final whistle to make it a special night for the away fans in Cologne.
 

Bundesliga | 1. FC Köln – RB Leipzig

Lineups

KOE: Schwäbe – Carstensen, Kilian, Chabot, Pacarada – Martel, Huseinbasic (80' Christensen) – Alidou (73'  Downs), Kainz (73' Selke), Finkgräfe (88' Schmitz) – Adamyan (80' Tigges)

RBL: Gulacsi – Henrichs (83' Simakan), Orban (C), Castello Jr. (85' Bitshiabu), Raum – Haidara (83' Kampl), Schlager – Xavi, Olmo – Openda (75' Baumgartner), Sesko (74' Poulsen)

KOE Unused Substitutes: Pentke (Tor) – Heintz, Dietz, Bakatukanda

RBL Unused Substitutes: Blaswich (Tor) – Lenz, Elmas, Seiwald

Goals

0:1 Xavi (15'), 1:1 Adamyan (18'), 1:2 Openda (63'), 1:3 Openda (67'), 1:4 Haidara (70'), 1:5 Poulsen (82')

Yellow Cards

Finkgräfe (3rd), Alidou (2nd) | Xavi (6th), Haidara (5th)

Officials

First Referee: Florian Badstübner (Nürnberg)

First Assistant: Markus Schüller (Korschenbroich)

Second Assistant: Thomas Stein (Aschaffenburg)

Fourth Official: Nicolas Winter (Hagenbach)

Video Assistant: Pascal Müller (Freudental)
 

10th Minute: Tight Start

As expected, RBL takes the initiative to put pressure on the Köln defense, which has been busy in the early stages. Both teams are battling in midfield, but there haven't been any great chances to score yet.
 

15th Minute: Xavi makes it 1-0!

Well played! Willi Orban plays a long flat pass to Dani Olmo, who directs it to Benjamin Sesko, who lays it off to the onrushing Xavi with a beautiful touch. Alone in front of the Köln goalkeeper, our number 20 keeps his nerve and rolls it into the corner.
 

18th Minute: Köln responds

A corner brings Köln a quick equalizer. Eric Martel gets to the corner first and heads the ball to the back post, where Sargis Adamyan is free and makes it 1-1.
 

27th Minute: Openda puts it in the net - but it doesn't count!

RBL scores again, but this time the linesman's flag goes up. Lois Openda was just offside when Xavi played him in.
 

31st Minute: Almost 2-1!

Dani Olmo hält aus 20 Metern einfach mal drauf, FC-Torwart Marvin Schwäbe kann den wuchtigen Schuss nur nach vorne abwehren, wo Benjamin Sesko steht. Leider schießt er aus kurzer Distanz klar am Tor vorbei.

Dani Olmo rips a powerful shot from 20 meters, and Marvin Schwäbe can only fend the powerful shot forward, where Benjamin Sesko is anticipating the rebound.. Unfortunately, his close-range shot just goes wide!
 

36th Minute: Olmo shoots just wide

Dani Olmo again takes a chance from distance. This time his attempt from almost 18 meters flies about a meter wide of the goal.
 

41st Minute: Unlucky for Henrichs!

Our two full-backs go forward and it becomes dangerous! David Raum crosses from the left, Benjamin Henrichs has burst up the right and gets to the ball, but his effort is deflected just off target.
 

45th Minute +3: Big Chances in Stoppage Time!

Another three great chances shortly before the half-time whistle. First Dani Olmo pulls away from his defender on the turn on the left of the penalty area and hits the left post, then Xavi tries it from a similar position - and it goes just over! Shortly before half-time, Lois Openda is denied by the FC goalkeeper from close range.
 

57th Minute: Danger in the penalty area!

RBL creates danger in the Köln penalty area off a set piece. Lois Openda shoots from close range, but Luca Kilian gets his body in front it, and Castello Jr.'s follow-up shot is also blocked.
 

63rd Minute: Openda makes it 2-1!

Yessssss, there's the lead we deserve! Benjamin Sesko starts with a direct pass for Xavi, who does brilliantly to cross the ball in front of goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe, where Lois Openda is waiting to tap home.
 

67th Minute: 3:1! Openda again!

Now die Roten Bullen is finally on the path to victory! David Raum picks up the pace on the left and sends a teasing cross into the center to Lois Openda, who rises magnificently to head the ball powerfully off the post and in from distance.
 

70th Minute: Haidara increases the lead from distance

The fourth goal comes from a corner: Amadou Haidara takes a shot from 18 meters and hits the bottom right corner of the net. 4-1 for RBL, what a night!
 

82. Minute: Poulsen goes one better!

5:1 for RBL, this time from substitute Yussuf Poulsen! Benjamin Henrichs provides a great assist with a perfect cross from the right side, and Yussi gets his outstretched foot to the ball to send it into the far corner.