On 16 September, one of the matches of the 4th round of the German football championship took place. Cologne (Germany) and Hoffenheim (Germany) met.
German Championship, 4th round
Cologne (Germany) - Hoffenheim (Germany) - 0:0 (0:0)
FC Koln vs 1899 Hoffenheim: In an exciting Bundesliga match, FC Koln and 1899 Hoffenheim met at the RheinEnergieStadion. The match was filled with tense moments, dramatic goals and plenty of cards. Let's take a look at the highlights of this exciting football clash. The first half started with the first goal by A. Kramaric of Hoffenheim in the 1st minute. This set the tone for the visitors, who were hungry for victory. FC Koln tried to pull themselves together, but struggled to find their rhythm and fell further behind when R. Skov received a yellow card in the 23rd minute. 1899 Hoffenheim continued to dominate and increased their lead with a goal by F. Grillich in the 28th minute. FC Koln's frustration was growing and in the 34th minute T. Hubers received a yellow card. The first half ended with a yellow card break, with FC Koln's J. Chabot also receiving one in the 45th minute. At the start of the second half, Hoffenheim 1899 did not slow down. In the 52nd minute M. Bayer hit the net, further consolidating their advantage. However, FC Koln resisted courageously and managed to get back on track in the 61st minute thanks to a goal by D. Zielke. The home team was in high spirits and started to hope for a comeback. Both teams made substitutions to freshen up the squads. On 58 minutes W. Weghorst and G. Promel came on for Hoffenheim 1899 and B. Schmitz and F. Alidou for Koln.
However, despite all efforts, neither team was able to change the score. The match became increasingly tense as more cards were shown. In the 64th minute, Koln's R. Carstensen received a yellow card, which was followed by substitutions for both teams. In the 66th minute D. Huseinbasic and L. Waldschmidt came on for Koln, while in the 67th minute K. Vogt replaced S. Nsoki for 1899 Hoffenheim. As the clock ticked down, both teams showed determination and desire to score. However, it was 1899 Hoffenheim who capitalised on their opportunities better. In the 79th minute, M. Boulter and F.O. Becker came on as substitutes, looking to seal the win for their team. FC Koln's struggles continued and in the 90th minute R. Carstensen received a second yellow card, leading to a red card. The home team played the final minutes with ten men, which made their task of saving the game almost impossible. The half-time whistle sounded and Hoffenheim 1899 were deserved winners with a score of 1-3. What made the difference was that Hoffenheim 1899 dominated the game from the start and finished the game. FC Koln fought back hard, but could not overcome the opponent's advantage. This Bundesliga duel will be unforgettable and will leave the fans in suspense. Both teams showed bright moments, but in the end Hoffenheim 1899 won. For Hoffenheim 1899 this victory will be an important step towards success in the championship, while Koln will have to rebuild and recover in the upcoming matches.
The following matches await the rivals in the next round: Werder - Cologne, Union - Hoffenheim.
| Cologne | Hoffenheim | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Kicks to the goal | 5 |
| 18 | Shots | 14 |
| 5 | Blocked shots | 2 |
| 12 | Penalty kicks | 7 |
| 6 | Kicks from outside the penalty box | 7 |
| 15 | Offences | 14 |
| 13 | Corners | 4 |
| 3 | Offsides | 1 |
| 57% | Ball possession | 43% |
| 4 | Yellow cards | 4 |
| 1 | Red cards | 0 |
| 2 | Keeper saves | 5 |
| 412 | Total assists | 336 |
| 319 | Accurate assists | 241 |
| 77% | Accuracy of passes | 72% |