Martin Harnik (left) celebrates his goal © SID-IMAGES/Getty Images /.The VfB Stuttgart has taken a step towards class remain. The VfB won in Cologne deserved 3-1 (0-0) and has two counters ahead of the relegation spot.
Cologne (SID) - the VfB Stuttgart has made a big step towards class remain in the Bundesliga. The German champions of 2007 won the 1st FC Cologne deserved 3-1 (0-0) and has four games before the end of the season two counters ahead of the relegation area 16.
A very strong international, Christian Trasch (51.), Martin Harnik (53.) shot the victory and Zdravko Kuzmanovic with a controversial penalty of hand (63.), only 13 minutes, scored the Cologne were Milivoje Novakovic with his 14th season hit (69). Cologne ex player Bruno Labbadia of trained Swabia are unbeaten since four away games.
The Cologne, ripped, their proud home series of seven victories in a row are at only two points more also still not saved. Also, the departure of coach Frank Schafer FC threatens Michael Skibbe a possible successor was on Friday reportedly already to contract negotiations in Cologne. Against the VfB, the Cologne remained also in the sixth attempt since September 2000 without a home victory, in addition they must resign next week at VfL Wolfsburg on the yellow gesperrten Lukas Podolski.
The Swabia the better team had been in the overall boring first half. This, the VfB in addition to the suspended Pavel Pogrebnyak had to replace also Timo Gebhart is prematurely terminated for the season because of an ankle operation. Striker Cacau - at the 5: 1 in the previous year, triple scorer, but now went Swabia which since November without gate - also adductor problems weakened in the game.
The Cologne found after the discussion of Shepherd's future during the week initially not quite in the game and had to change already for the first time after 16 minutes, came for the battered Slawomir Peszko Christian Clemens. Awarded the best chances after a quickly executed free kick from Podolski (30) (22) and Clemens Novakovic and Podolski even with a relatively miserably tried flick (34.).
The better chances had already prior joining VfB. prevented at the last moment of the first Bundesliga goal of agile Japanese Shinji Okazaki (25), a free-kick by Tamas Hajnal stroke short of the goal by Christian Eichner (39.).
After the break, the game was first completely on one side, only goalkeeper Michael Rensing was still vigorous opposition to Cologne page. The keeper put a header from Okazaki with the foot from (48), in the 25 m shot Trasch after spectacular 60-metre solo he was as powerless as at Harnik opportunist goal. The penalty gift by referee Peter Sippel Kuzmanovic took advantage of the finals.
But after Novakovics were the Cologne as reanimated worked. In the Schwaben the jitters began suddenly, memories of the 3-3 to 3-0-lead in the 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the first half were awake. Pedro Geromel awarded by header but the chance to the 2: 3 (71.).
