Downs scores late to keep Cologne up and defer Bundesliga relegation decisions to final day
Damion Downs has scored in injury time to keep alive Cologne’s Bundesliga survival hopes with a 3-2 home win over Union BerlinMAY 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
FC KÖLN 5-3-4 · 7TH IN 2. BUNDESLIGA
5-3-4 · 7TH IN 2. BUNDESLIGA
Next Match vs SC Preussen 06 Munster (A) · Fri 5:30PM
Luca Waldschmidt - Scores decisive goal Waldschmidt scored one goal to go with three shots (two on goal), one cross (one accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 2-1 victory versus Bochum.
Impact Waldschmidt entered the fray for the final 22 minutes of FC Koln's 2-1 victory over Bochum on Saturday. The appearance marked just the second time he's taken the pitch since suffering a leg injury in December of 2023. Waldschmidt's inclusion for the final stages of the match proved conclusive, as he netted his third goal of the campaign in second half stoppage time to earn FC Koln three points. The veteran forward has not made more than 23 appearances in the Bundeslinga since the 2019 - 2020 campaign with SC Frieburg. He has made 17 appearances (10 starts) in 2023 - 2024.
APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE
Sargis Adamyan - Fit for Bochum clash Adamyan (undisclosed) is in the starting XI for Saturday's match with Bochum.
Impact Adamyan was forced off early last week against Augsburg, but has recovered in time to start Saturday's contest. The start will be the midfielder's fifth in a row as he enters the match with a goal involvement in each of his last two matches.
APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE
Luca Waldschmidt - Available for 2024 debut Waldschmidt (leg) is among the substitutes for Sunday's match against Augsburg.
Impact Waldschmidt is in the squad for the first time in 2024 having last made an appearance in December. The attacker has made 15 appearances on the season scoring twice.
MARCH 31 • ROTOWIRE
Max Finkgrafe - Available as substitute Finkgrafe (back) is in the squad to face Augsburg on Sunday.
Impact Finkgrafe is good to go after picking up a back injury in training over the international break. The fullback had started 12 straight matches, but settles for a role on the bench Sunday.
MARCH 31 • ROTOWIRE
Mark Uth - Out again Uth (knee) is out for Friday's match against Leipzig.
Impact Uth is still waiting on a return, continuing his streak of 10 straight matches on the sidelines due to knee complications. The forward will now have two weeks to work on recovery while the club is on an international break, looking to make a return on March 31 against Augsburg.
MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE
Marvin Schwabe - Allows three in six goal thriller Schwabe allowed three goals while making two saves during Saturday's 3-3 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Impact Schwabe allowed a goal in the first half and two in the second, but held on enough for Koln to find a late equalizing goal. The keeper has not kept a clean sheet since the opening match of February and has allowed six goals while making nine saves over his last three starts.
MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE
Mark Uth - Won't face Galdbach Uth (knee) is out for Saturday's match against Gladbach.
Impact Uth will remain on the sidelines for another week, now missing his ninth straight match due to a knee issue. However, the forward was able to get some work on the field individually this week and will now look to make the jump to group training, hoping to return to the team sheet to face Leipzig on March 16.
MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Diehl - Out Saturday Diehl (thigh) is out for Saturday's match against Gladbach.
Impact Diehl is not ready for a return to play, missing his first match due to a a thigh issue he picked up last week against Leverkusen. However, the forward did already start individual training this week, hoping to get into team training next week and return next Saturday to face Leipzig.
MARCH 9 • ROTOWIRE
Jan Thielmann - Suspension upgraded Thielmann has had his suspension upgraded and will now miss two matches due to the ban, the club confirmed Tuesday.
Impact Thielmann will be remaining on the sidelines for an additional match than expected, as after receiving a straight red card against Leverkusen on Sunday, the DFB sports court reviewed the situation and deemed he committed a harsh and dangerous foul, bumping his ban from one to two games. This means the midfielder will not only miss Saturday's match against Gladbach but will also be out for the March 15 contest against Leipzig. He will next be available after the international break to face Augsburg on March 31.
MARCH 5 • ROTOWIRE
Jan Thielmann - Sent off early Thielmann was sent off in the first half of Sunday's match against Leverkusen.
Impact Thielmann was shown a straight red card in the 14th minute following a VAR review of his foul on Granit Xhaka. The midfielder will miss next week's match at Gladbach through suspension.
MARCH 3 • ROTOWIRE
Timo Hubers - Back in training Hubers (illness) is available for Sunday's clash with Leverkusen, Koln announced.
Impact Hubers is available after coming back from an illness and getting back into full training. The defender missed out against Stuttgart last time out and was replaced by Luca Kilian. With Hubers fit once more he should be straight back in the starting XI alongside Julian Chabot.
FEBRUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE
Davie Selke - Starts limited work Selke (foot) was pictured doing some ball work on the training pitch Monday.
Impact Selke has already been out of action for the club's last five outings due to his fractured foot. While this is certainly a step in the right direction for the forward, he is not expected back any time soon. Still, Selke has started all but one of his 15 appearances this season, so he should be in contention for a spot in the starting XI once cleared to return.
FEBRUARY 19 • ROTOWIRE
Dejan Ljubicic - Mediocre performance against Werder Bremen Ljubicic recorded two shots (two on goal), one cross (zero accurate) and one chance created in Friday's 1-0 loss to Werder Bremen.
Impact Ljubicic lost possession of the ball eight times but made efforts to rectify it with two interceptions. He was replaced by Steffen Tigges in the 84th minute. His only goal involvements of the season came against Frankfurt two weeks ago.
FEBRUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE
Julian Chabot - Banned once more Chabot picked up a fifth yellow card and will be suspended for Friday's clash with Bremen.
Impact Chabot has been a starter whenever available to play but is now set for his second suspension of the season. Dominique Heintz is the most likely option to step into the starting XI against Bremen, and he projects as a perfectly serviceable replacement.
FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE
Faride Alidou - Opens the scoring Saturday Alidou scored a goal with his lone shot while crossing four times inaccurately and creating a chance during Saturday's match against Wolfsburg.
Impact Alidou opened the scoring in the 37th minute before subbing off the pitch in the 63rd. The goal was the first of the season for the attacker as he started his first match since October on Staurday.
JANUARY 27 • ROTOWIRE
Davie Selke - Breaks foot Selke suffered a fracture to a bone in his foot and is set to remain out for several weeks, per the Bild.
Impact Selke will likely remain out for two or more months after fracturing his foot. He had scored three goals in his last six matches played, while logging in five goals in 15 appearances all season, 14 of them coming as starts. Steffen Tigges is expected to take the start at forward for the time being, failing to score in 12 appearances thus far.
JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE
Dejan Ljubicic - Picks up knock Ljubicic has gone down with an apparent injury as he is away from the team, his club announced Tuesday.
Impact Ljubicic may be dealing with an injury heading into the club's first match since the start of the winter break, having encountered an undisclosed issue in training that has resulted in him being away from the team. The midfielder still has a couple of days to recover before their match against Heidenheim on Saturday, as he will try to shake the issue before the contest. He has started in 13 of the club's 16 contests thus far, so his absence will affect the squad if he cannot play. If that is the case, expect Denis Huseinbasic or Mathias Olesen to get the nod against Heidenheim.
JANUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE
Mark Uth - Suffers knee injury Uth picked up a knee injury during Sunday's friendly with Rot-Weiss Essen, Koln announced.
Impact Uth will be missing for some time after picking up the knee injury. While there was no specific timeline given the forward could miss multiple weeks and will certainly miss a Saturday clash with Heidenheim. This is yet another serious injury concern for Uth, who has missed most of the past two seasons with injury.
JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE
Julian Chabot - Available for selection Chabot served a one-match ban and is now eligible for a Jan. 13 clash with Heidenheim.
Impact Chabot got to start his break a bit early after serving the one-match ban against Union Berlin. The defender should replace Luca Killian in the starting XI for the first match after the break. That said with a new manager set to be named in Koln there's no guarantee who will be the first choice in the starting XI.
DECEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Faride Alidou - Back on bench Alidou (illness) is on the bench for Wednesday's game versus Union Berlin.
Impact Alidou is back with the team after missing the last three matches with an illness. He will likely remain a bench option, making just one start in his previous nine games played.
DECEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Marvin Schwabe - Sees two go in loss Schwabe registered five saves and allowed two goals in Sunday's 2-0 defeat versus SC Freiburg.
Impact Schwabe's clean sheet streak snapped Sunday after allowing two goals against Freiburg. He's only allowed five goals in the last six matches, totaling 24 saves with two clean sheets in that span. The keeper also brings his average saves per gam to 3.5 with 53 in 15 contests thus far.
DECEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Julian Chabot - Sent off Sunday Chabot was sent off in the second half of Sunday's match against Freibrug.
Impact Chabot was shown his second yellow card of the match in the 62nd minute, forcing Koln down to ten men. The center back will miss Koln's final match before the winter break through suspension with Luca Kilian a candidate to replace him in the XI.
DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Julian Chabot - Recovers from illness Chabot (illness) is in the starting XI for Sunday's match against Freiburg.
Impact Chabot has recovered from an illness which forced him off early during last week's match against Mainz. The defender is a locked in starter when fit having played every match on the season for Koln.
DECEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Sargis Adamyan - Ruled out Adamyan (hip) will not be an option for Sunday's match against Mainz, according to manager Steffen Baumgart.
Impact Adamyan did return to training on Tuesday, but is not fit enough to play Saturday. He is on doubt to return before the end of the calendar year after missing the last eight matches in a row with a hip issue.
DECEMBER 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
