ETB is celebrating its 125th anniversary. There were no gifts from 1. FC Köln, who were hungry for goals at the Uhlenkrug stadium. As part of the celebrations for the 125th anniversary of ETB’s soccer department, Lower Rhine Oberliga club ETB SW Essen took on Bundesliga newcomers 1. FC Köln on Wednesday evening.

Cologne, who got off to a flying start in the Bundesliga, ultimately won 9-1 (5-0) in front of 1,265 spectators. Before the 90 minutes, ETB coach Dennis Czayka emphasized: “The match against 1. FC Köln is a great event for everyone involved. We just want to enjoy the game and the atmosphere. We want to put in a decent performance and come out of it with our heads held high, just like we did against RWE. That’s how we’ll approach the game against FC.”

And the test quickly reached operating temperature. Cologne scored early on, but Luca Waldschmidt’s goal was disallowed.

Shortly afterwards, ETB almost took the lead. After a counterattack by ETB, things happened very quickly. Lukas Korytowski rounded FC keeper Ron-Robert Zieler – but Cologne’s Cenk Özkacar saved on the line.

And after 20 minutes, the favorites took a 1-0 lead. Via Florian Kainz and Cologne’s latest signing, Alessio Castro-Montes, the ball came to Waldschmidt, who had no trouble finishing from close range.

Now 1. FC Köln picked up speed and increased their lead to 3-0 by the 31st minute—first it was Waldschmidt again on a pass from Ragnar Ache, then Denis Huseinbasic scored from around 20 meters. And shortly before halftime, Waldschmidt completed his hat trick.
However, the score was 5-0 at halftime, this time with Waldschmidt setting up Ache, who was able to slot home into an empty net from three meters out. Waldschmidt was clearly offside in this scene, which was unfortunate for ETB. After the break, FC Köln took their foot off the gas, allowing ETB to score a consolation goal.
Rotosson Kanu made it 1-5 after Kristoffer Lund had slipped in the middle. And after Kanu, ETB keeper Mohamed Abou Khamis also distinguished himself. In the 68th minute, he saved a penalty from Waldschmidt after Jan Thielmann had been fouled.Khamis didn’t have long to celebrate, though, as three minutes later he had to digest two goals. First, Thielmann scored with a drop kick to make it 6-1, then ETB lost the ball too easily and Ache thanked them with a beautiful curling shot.

In the 80th minute, ETB then ran into a counterattack. Thielmann passed to Waldschmidt, who kept his cool in front of Khamis and scored his fourth goal to make it 8-1. Waldschmidt’s fifth strike shortly before the end then marked the final score of this test match.