Dallinga's debut double delivers victory for Köln over Hoffenheim
| Photo: Lars Baron/Getty Images. |
In what could only be described as a vintage end-to-end Bundesliga match, 1.FC Köln came from behind twice to claim a 3-2 victory this afternoon. Summer signing Thijs Dallinga was the hero of the day, bagging a brace off the bench to gift the host all three points.
Both sides took time to get to grips with each other an atmospheric RhineEnergie Stadion. Chances were largely rare, barring a Said El Mala freekick that struck the wall and a venomous Adam Hlozek half-volley that bent around Marvin Schwäbe's post by a foot.
First blood would go the way of Hoffenheim on 27 minutes from a set-piece routine which initially broke down. Retaining the ball, Hlozek and Conté worked some room for the summer signing to cheekily deceive Schwäbe with a fizzing near-post strike.
The Sinsheim club grew in confidence there on, pinning Köln inside their half for extended periods. However, Köln undoubtedly should have equalised when Leon Avdullahu's back pass fell to El Mala – the 19-year-old was unable to get the better of Oliver Baumann.
A completely different Köln emerged from the tunnel to start the second-half, and they got their just rewards inside 10 minutes. Who else but El Mala would provide the killer blow, playing a one-two with Isak Johannesson and finding the net with a deflection off Bernardo.
Drama followed when Jahmai Simpson-Pusey took Conté down in the box. From the spot, Max Moerstedt would be denied by the gloves of Schwäbe at full stretch. At the other end, the hosts came within inches of the lead when Luca Lochoshvili steered a header wide.
Such were the margins, Hoffenheim regained their winning position when Coufal's corner was thumped in by Ozan Kabak. Yet, parity lasted all of 5 minutes – Mensah and Maina combined down the left to full effect as Thijs Dallinga converted at the front post on debut.
The Billygoats, gaining momentum, looked destined to score next and that they did on 82 minutes. With Hoffenheim failing to clear their lines, Tom Krauß broke the ball to Dallinga to net his double with a clinical snapshot, and with it a memorable opening day triumph.
