3-2 against FC Köln – Werkself in semi-finals after derby win

Head coach Xabi Alonso made five changes to his starting XI from the 3-1 home win against TSG Hoffenheim including Matej Kovar in goal. The match started with a ten-minute delay shortly after kick-off due to smoke covering the whole pitch and obscuring vision. As expected, the Werkself had the majority of possession with the visitors showing discipline in closing down space in their own half.

goal conceded just before half-time

The best chance of the game came on the half-hour mark with Alejandro Grimaldo hitting a free kick against the bar. The Spaniard then just missed out on another chance to give the Werkself the lead (34'). The double winners were able to find gaps in the FC Köln defence – during this phase mostly down the right through the impressive Jeremie Frimpong. It looked like the game was heading for a goalless first half before Damion Downs scored out of the blue ten minutes into added time to give FC Köln the lead. The half-time whistle was blown shortly after that.

Schick takes tie into extra time

The Werkself exerted pressure at the start of the second half with several shots on goal either being blocked or flying just wide of the target. Florian Wirtz went very close on 51 minutes but the next goal came at the other end from a counter-attack with Linton Maina scoring for the Goats (54'). The double winners refused to give up the fight after that blow and Patrik Schick pulled a goal back at 2-1 (61') with a brilliant assist from Wirtz. It was one-way traffic from the hosts with Wirtz leading the way. Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface were brought on to provide fresh legs up front. The Werkself worked hard for the equaliser – and it came from Schick late on. Six minutes into added time, the Czechia international headed home a cross from Frimpong. Extra time!

Boniface scores - Köln goal chalked off

The Werkself upped the tempo in extra time – and were rewarded for their great efforts. Substitute Boniface scored from close range with a volley from a Grimaldo cross to make it 3-2 (98'). But that was not the end of the action in this cup thriller: FC Köln's Imad Rondic appeared to have levelled from close range but VAR confirmed the goalscorer had been offside in the move – it remained 3-2 to Bayer 04. And at the end of extra time as well. The derby win, the semi-finals – what a night!

semi-final draw at start of march

VfB Stuttgart beat FC Augsburg 1-0 last night and, at the end of February, third division Armenia Bielefeld play Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig meet VfL Wolfsburg. The draw for the semi-finals will be held on Sunday, 2 March from 18.45 CET on the ARD Sportschau. The semi-finals will be played on 1 and 2 April with the final on 24 May at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.

outlook: Wolfsburg then Bayern

After three home games, Bayer 04 are next in action on the road. The Werkself are away to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, 8 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET). That is followed a week later by the top match at the BayArena against Bayern Munich with the kick off at 18.30 CET.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Kovar - Mukiele (Garcia 86'), Tah, Tapsoba (Hincapie 46') - Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios (Boniface 76'), Grimaldo (Hermoso 100') - Buendía (Tella 60'), Wirtz - Schick

FC Köln: Schwäbe - Hübers, Schmied, Heintz - Thielmann (Gazibegovic 93'), Ljubicic, Martel, Huseinbasic (Olesen 72'), Finkgräfe (Pacarada 72') - Downs (Tigges 65'), Maina (Rondic 80')

Goals: 0-1 Downs (45+10’), 0-2 Maina (54’), 1-2 Schick (61’), 2-2 Schick (90+6’), 2-3 Boniface (98’)

Yellow cards: Xhaka, Wirtz, Garcia - Heintz, Hübers, Struber (head coach)

Referee: Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück)

Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena