After a balanced first half it was the hosts who struck first at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Akkaynak got on the end of a good ball and found the back of the FC Köln net to give Bayer 04 the lead.
Following substitutions during the break, Köln improved in the second half. Within 10 minutes the visitors turn the game round with two goals.
Late decider
Instead of an equaliser, a breakaway attack in the closing stages led to FC Köln sealing victory with a third goal. "The lads gave everything right to the end but were unable to find the finishing touch," said coach Markus von Ahlen.
Schalke 04 next up
The Bayer 04 U19s do not have time to let their heads drop. The next big challenge is on Sunday when the team travels to the big away game at FC Schalke 04. With two games to play the U19s are level on points with the Royal Blues in second position.
At the end of the season that position would be enough to qualify for the German Championship semi-finals.
Match stats:
Bayer 04 U19: Prinz - Popovic, Nesseler, Rhein (Yalcin 72’), Osawe, Mbay, Grym (Handwerker 46’), Abu Hanna, Stanilweicz (Shala 59’), Akkaynak, Schreck (Bednarczyk 59’).
Arminia Bielefeld U19: Theißen - Goden (Wendel 87’), Jakobs, Sonnenberg (Miotke 46’), Brackelmann, Akalp, Rittmüller (Bezerra 59’), Ciftci, Churlinov, Szöke, Ametov (Karweina 46’).
Goals: 1-0 Akkaynak (45’), 1-1 Jakobs (68’), 1-2 Bezerra (78’), 1-3 Karweina (87’).
Booked: / - Churlinov.
Referee: Orbach (Cologne).
NEXT U19 GAMES:
| Competition |
Opponents |
Venue | Date |
Kick-off |
| Bundesliga | FC Schalke 04 | A | 30.04. | 13:00 |
| Bundesliga | Viktoria Köln | H | 06.05. | 13:00 |
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