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1.12.2023Bayer 04

Match of the Month: 40 years ago – Commitment, technique, excitement, goals.

Matchday 17 in the 1983/84 season brings a derby at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. It is 9 December 1983, the last game before the winter break. Our stadium is, unimaginable today, not sold out but does have a decent crowd of 15,000. Around 2,000 spectators have crossed the Rhine from Cologne.

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The two sides are evenly matched. One place in the table separates the teams. The Werkself are seventh on 18 points and FC Köln eighth with a point less.

An exciting game develops from the start, "spirited battling, tireless commitment, technical skills, electric atmosphere and exciting goalmouth action on both sides provides everything that makes a football game worth watching" (kicker from 12.12.19 83). FC Köln take the lead on three minutes from the corner with an inswinging ball that goes over my fingers. I don't think the ball was completely over the line but it was my fault nevertheless. FC Köln look to increase the lead and bombard the Bayer goal. The Werkself resist, take up the challenge and battle their way back into the game. The equaliser at 1-1 on 33 minutes is deserved. Herbert Waas turns in a cross from sweeper Dieter Bast. That's the score at half-time.

The outstanding South Korean striker Bum-kun Cha scores to make it 2-1 on 57 minutes. In tandem with his strike partner Herbert Waas, he is suddenly one-on-one with Germany keeper Toni Schumacher and he nutmegs him. The ball rolls into the net and the Bayer 04 fans celebrate." Klaus Allofs has another chance with a header five minutes later but the Werkself hold onto the 2-1 lead to secure the first Bundesliga victory against FC Köln.

With 20 points, Bayer 04 have never done as well before in their history in the Bundesliga.

The line-ups:

Bayer 04: Vollborn – Posner, Bast, Gelsdorf, Saborowski (Winklhofer 57’), Vöge (Geschlecht 84’), Hörster, Bittorf, Wojtowicz, Cha, Waas

FC Köln: Schumacher – Prestin (Mennie 79’), Strack, Hönerbach, Hartmann, Zimmermann, Engels, Haas (Willmer 53’), Littbarski, Fischer, Allofs

 

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