A draw in the 23rd matchday of the 2nd Bundesliga has left the 1. FC Köln in second place, as they could not capitalize on their initiative against Fortuna Düsseldorf. The Geißböcke took control of the game from the start and dominated the match, but the Fortuna defense held firm and it took until the 67th minute for Florian Kainz to break the deadlock with a goal set up by Linton Maina.
After the goal, the home team gradually retreated, managed the lead and waited for counter-attacks. Düsseldorf, which had been nearly invisible in the first half, increased the pressure. A major opportunity to equalize was missed by Vincent Vermeij in the 84th minute, when he hit the crossbar from a short distance.
The decisive scene followed a few minutes later: in the 87th minute, Köln’s central defender Joël Schmied committed a handball in the penalty area. After a flank from the left, the ball bounced uncontrollably to his hand – referee Michael Bacher immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Isak Jóhannesson took responsibility and converted the penalty calmly to equalize 1-1 (90th minute). FC goalkeeper Schwäbe had chosen the wrong corner.
The other results from Sunday: Darmstadt won 2-0 against Schalke and Fürth defeated Braunschweig 3-0.