Steffen Baumgart stormed down the grandstand, hugged each of his players and was right in the middle of the big European Cup party in front of the FC curve. A few minutes after the anger about his yellow-red card due to violent protests, the impulsive coach was in a party mood. Baumgart and Co. jumped enthusiastically across the lawn.
The people of Cologne had previously averted the embarrassment at Lake Balaton and secured at least six more festival evenings and important millions in revenue. In the playoff second leg to the Conference League, Cologne won 3-0 (1-0) at Fehérvár FC in Hungary and despite the 1-2 home defeat a week ago they still qualified for the main round.
“People often talk about pride. The boys nailed it all – with patience and a lot of spit. The whole club did something,” said Baumgart on the TV channel RTL+. He was “of course sorry” about the dismissal, Baumgart said: “I didn’t quite agree with the throw-in against us. I expressed that a little too loudly,” said the 50-year-old.
The referee “probably felt threatened. I guess I have to get used to the fact that nothing is allowed internationally. At least you can talk again in the Bundesliga.”
Baumgart has to go to the stands
This means that the Bundesliga is represented by eight clubs in the group stage of the European Cup for the first time in 14 years. The qualification gives FC around ten million euros. Money that the financially troubled club, which has already been eliminated from the cup, urgently needs. Central defender Timo Hübers (10th minute), Ellyes Skhiri (46th) and Kingsley Schindler (90th + 4) scored the goals for coach Baumgart’s team.
“I’m very relieved that we made it. It was well deserved for more than 180 minutes. The players should celebrate, then we’ll fly home,” said managing director Christian Keller and recalled the great development of FC: “You just have to look at where FC was a year ago. Everyone would have signed up to play just one playoff game.”
Not a sure-fire success for the people of Cologne
Around 3,000 Cologne fans met at midday at the Országalma fountain in Szekesfehérvár and made a pilgrimage to the stadium all in red. It remained mostly peaceful. FC had agreed with the Hungarians that the guest contingent was increased from 700 to 2700 tickets. On site, the organizers meticulously made sure that no guest fans got into the home area, all tickets were personalized.
Baumgart surprisingly spared Jonas Hector, his captain and all-rounder, at kick-off. As expected and as in the first leg, FC took over the initiative directly, but as in the first leg, the Hungarians defended themselves bravely and set dangerous pinpricks on counterattacks. But FC quickly took the lead from a standard situation when Hübers headed in a corner from Florian Kainz. Since the away goals rule was abolished, the result from the first leg was already equalized.
However, the game was not a sure-fire success for the Bundesliga club. FC were clearly dominant, numerous corners and crosses sailed into the penalty area, but most of them were easy prey. And despite 13:2 shots on goal before the break, only Kainz’s shot from about 20 meters really posed a threat (37th).
And so it was 2-0 even after a standard situation. Again it was a corner kick from Kainz, Kristian Pedersen extended, the strong Skhiri completed at the far post. And the Cologne fans chanted in an endless loop: “European Cup, we’re back in the European Cup.” Now the Hungarians were under pressure, but FC keeper Marvin Schwäbe reacted with flying colors several times (61st).
