Selke goal is not enough for Cologne
Joker Njinmah sends Bremen into ecstasy with a lightning goal
September 23, 2023, 8:25 p.m
Werder Bremen dealt 1. FC Cologne a serious blow in the evening game of the Bundesliga. The team from the Weser turns the game around and wins 2-1. A goal from Davie Selke isn’t enough for Steffen Baumgart’s team, also because a joker scored well. Cologne remains deep in the basement.
Werder Bremen clinched their second win of the season in the duel between the stuttering starters. Coach Ole Werner’s team deservedly won the Saturday evening game against 1. FC Köln 2-1 (1-1), thereby exacerbating the crisis for the cathedral townspeople.
Ex-Bremen player Davie Selke headed Cologne into the lead (31st) and briefly even gave FC hope for their first win of the season. But loan player Rafael Borre with his green-white debut goal (38th) and Justin Njinmah (67th) turned the game around. Remarkable: Njinmah scored with his first touch of the ball a few seconds after coming on for Borre.
While Bremen, where new signing Naby Keita made his debut in stoppage time, can take a deep breath for the time being, the mood at FC is likely to worsen further. Cologne just can’t get going; after five matchdays, coach Steffen Baumgart’s team only has one point.
“We know that we have to do a lot of things in terms of sport,” Baumgart said self-critically before the game: “But we are far from negative and from a crisis.” For the game against Bremen, as for all games, the following applies: “I can’t promise success, but I can promise full throttle.”
Dream goal to make it 2:1
In fact, the 42,100 spectators in the sold-out Weserstadion saw a lively game, at least at times, and the desire of both teams was clearly noticeable – with Cologne initially setting the tone. While Werder only posed danger from set pieces for a long time, FC controlled the game in the first half and sought to move forward.
Because Linton Maina’s low shot from 18 meters was missed by Jiri Pavlenka (14th), a Dejan Ljubicic shot two minutes later was blocked at the last moment and a free kick from ex-Bremen player Florian Kainz sailed just over the goal (19th). , it took until the 31st minute for Baumgart to celebrate.
Of all people, Selke, who played in Bremen from 2013 to 2015 and in the 2020/21 season, scored with a header from billiards. After a Kainz corner, it was first Julian Chabot whose header was headed off the line by Bremen’s Olivier Deman. Selke was in the right position and hit the goal from close range, with a header of course.
And Bremen? Celebrated a short time later, more or less out of nowhere. Marvin Ducksch tricked the Cologne defense with a fine pass into the interface, and Borre coolly pushed in. The goal gave Bremen a boost. Shortly before half-time, Deman tested FC keeper Marvin Schwäbe with a volley from the edge of the penalty area (42′). Seconds after halftime, it was Romano Schmid who narrowly missed the goal from a tight angle. Njinmah did better a little later after a fantastic pass from Senne Lynen.
Cologne threw everything forward again in the final phase – but was unsuccessful despite constant pressure. Damion Downs (89th) only hit the outpost with his head.