- Elversberg is strong with 2-2 against Cologne
SV Elversberg narrowly missed an upset, holding 1. FC Köln, the top-flight relegated team, to a 2:2 draw (0:1) and remaining unbeaten after a goalless draw in their opening match in Magdeburg in the 2. Bundesliga.
Substitutes Fisnik Asllani (46th minute) and Frederik Schmahl (62nd) turned the game after Köln took the lead through Denis Huseinbasic (21st), but Timo Hübers (84th) scored the equalizer in front of 9,502 spectators at the Ursapharm Arena at Kaiserlinde, securing a deserved point for the Billy Goats.
The Rhinelanders started much better and pressed the hosts into their half from the beginning. While chances were scarce, Linton Maina (15th) missed the best one, failing to beat SVE goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof. Six minutes later, the Bundesliga relegated team punished Elversberg with the 1:0 lead. After that, Köln failed to capitalize on their superiority.
In the second half, Elversberg opened with a bang, with new signing Asllani scoring after just one minute. After that, Köln seemed shell-shocked. The Saarlanders' lead through substitute Schmahl put the favorites into a state of shock.
However, the guests coped with the injury of Köln's hope, Mark Uth, a few minutes after his introduction, and scored the equalizer. After that, Köln threw everything forward, but Elversberg held firm.
The following opening minutes saw Elversberg struggle to create chances, despite having an advantage. The following injury to Köln's key player, Mark Uth, seemed to unsettle them further.
