Köln Edge Past Würzburg 2-1 in DFB-Pokal
- Isak Johannesson scored twice in the second half to give Bundesliga side Köln a 2-1 comeback victory over third-division Würzburg in the DFB-Pokal first round.
- Würzburg led through David Abrangao's 18th-minute goal from a corner, though the finish was scored from a position that appeared potentially offside.
- Würzburg struck the post in stoppage time through Liam Omore, denying a late equaliser that would have forced extra time.
Isak Johannesson rescued 1. FC Köln from a potentially damaging cup embarrassment on Monday evening, scoring twice in the second half to overturn a deficit and secure a 2-1 victory over third-division Würzburger Kickers in the opening round of the DFB-Pokal.
Würzburg strike first to threaten an upset
Köln, the Bundesliga side, entered the tie as heavy favourites but were undone by a defensive lapse in the 18th minute. New signing Gideon Mensah conceded a free kick with an awkward challenge on the edge of the penalty area, and from the resulting corner, David Abrangao reacted quickest to force the ball over the line from close range. Abrangao later described his goal as coming quickly and instinctively, though there was a suggestion his position may have been marginally offside — a suspicion the officials did not act upon.
For long stretches of the first half, Köln were unable to find a response despite enjoying the greater share of possession. Marko Rajkovacic in the Würzburg goal repeatedly denied Said El Mala and Ragnar Ache, and the hosts' compact defensive shape frustrated the visitors' attempts to play through the centre. Köln's own supporters registered their displeasure at the Monday evening scheduling by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch.
Johannesson turns the tie after the break
Köln manager René Wagner initially made no changes at half-time, but the equaliser arrived on the hour mark through fortune as much as design. El Mala's pressing forced a situation in which Ache — unable to connect cleanly — nonetheless provided an inadvertent lay-off for Johannesson to tap home from close range. A second Johannesson effort, finishing a Castro-Montes cross just a minute later, was disallowed for offside.
Wagner introduced Thijs Dallinga and Linton Maina in the final quarter-hour, and the move paid immediate dividends. Maina worked space on the right before rolling the ball back to Johannesson, who curled a precise finish beyond Rajkovacic into the far corner to make it 2-1 with thirteen minutes remaining.
Würzburg hit the post in a nervy finish
The tie was not settled without further anxiety. Würzburg's coach threw on three substitutes in search of a late equaliser, and substitute Liam Omore struck the post with a header from a left-sided cross deep into stoppage time. The woodwork preserved Köln's advantage as the final whistle sounded.
Speaking to Sportschau after the match, Johannesson acknowledged the difficulty of the occasion. "The first round of the cup is always tough. We had a lot of chances in the first half but the ball would not go in. In the end the most important thing was getting through to the next round," the Icelander said. "I am happy that I could help the team."
The result continues a pattern of Bundesliga clubs being tested by lower-league opposition in the early rounds of the competition. Bochum also required a narrow 2-1 win over Fürth to progress, while fourth-tier Jeddeloh stunned Heidenheim 5-2 in a reminder of the cup's capacity to produce upsets. Köln, for their part, will be relieved to have avoided the same fate.
