An attractive match came to a bitter end! Slovácko, despite a fighting performance, fell to Cologne with a penalty goal

Slovácko failed to win their Europa League home match against Cologne and after a 0:1 defeat they are out of the cups. The match was very combative, the visitors kicked two penalty kicks and from the second one they decided.

The first seven minutes of Thursday’s game did not offer a proper chance due to the bad weather, the opening of Friday’s show belonged to Slovácko. However, the home team did not come up with a good finish from two corner kicks.

On the other side, Sargis Adamyan raced in alone in the 28th minute, but Slovácko’s defence managed to come back. On the other side, Merchas Doski took a dangerous header from a great angle, but only hit the left post.

The first half was very tactical from both sides, both teams were aware that a loss means elimination for them. However, after the sides changed sides, Michal Travnik fouled in the 50th minute in the whitewash and a penalty was whistled for the visitors.

Captain and Austrian international Florian Kainz took the ball, but Filip Nguyen picked out the direction and headed it out. Slovácko’s penalty kick gave them energy, the next ten minutes belonged to the home team, but the pressure resulted in Milan Petržela’s shot over.

With the arrival of the substitutes, the quality started to show, but Slovácko held on. In the 78th minute, substitute Ondrej Duda went alone, but Nguyen confirmed his excellent form and pulled off a superb save.

Two minutes later, however, Michal Kohút fouled in the whitewash and the visitors were awarded a second penalty. The experienced Duda kept his cool and sent Cologne into the lead with a cross to the left post. On the other side, Stanislav Hoffman took a dangerous header, but the visitors’ goalkeeper cleared.

In the end it was up and down, Köln still hit the bar in a great chance, Slovácko pressed in the setup, but nothing more happened. Slovácko is out of the cups after a 0:1 loss, Cologne remains third in the table.

Source: UEFA Conference League