Defender gone astray: Verlaat saved a point at Viktoria Köln in 1860 as a centre-forward

Created: 08/29/2022, 11:40 am

By: Jacob Alschner

Late lion luck: Jesper Verlaat (left) celebrates his equalizer in Cologne – Tallig is happy with him.

© Christina Pahnke/sampics

Cologne – Michael Köllner took a deep breath.

His experiment had succeeded.

Central defender Jesper Verlaat had just scored the redeeming goal in the 86th minute for TSV 1860 to equalize 1-1 at Viktoria Köln, the whole bank jumped up, ran jubilantly onto the pitch and hugged each other.

Including Kolner.

Then the lion trainer puffed out his cheeks, caught his breath – and then let go.

Pfffff.

The second goal of the season by the blond, curly-haired 1.92-meter colossus Verlaat, who was ordered into the attack in Cologne from the 75th minute, had redeemed Köllner and his lions.

"A willpower in the penalty area," as the 52-year-old coach described it.

The series of now six unbeaten games in the 3rd division held.

It has to be said that it hadn't looked like that in Cologne for a long time.

It would be "difficult", Köllner had predicted in advance - and he was to be right.

The start was successful, but after about 15 minutes the hosts took control of the game.

1860 started to struggle at the back – also because the otherwise convincing Leandro Morgalla (17) didn’t have a good day.

Finally, he brought down Cologne's Simon Stehle in the penalty area, and Marcel Risse (32) effortlessly converted the correct penalty (24th minute).

"A blow to the neck" (Köllner), as well as the penalty that was not given in favor of the Löwen when Boyamba was touched by Jamil Siebert in the six-yard box shortly after the break and fell to the ground (53').

TSV 1860: Köllner's move to put Sheetnmacher aside in the storm Verlaat

However, the excitement about it - Boyamba himself saw the yellow card because of a dispute with the alleged perpetrator - shook Sixty awake.

Now the will is right, the attacks on the gate of the Victoria increased.

A strong Erik Tallig (22), who had already replaced the extremely pale Martin Kobylanski (28) at the break, gave 1860 a powerful boost.

And then Köllner's move to put Fynn Lakenmacher (19), who had meanwhile been substituted on, in the storm Verlaat.

Although the creator of the idea was actually someone else: "Stefan Reisinger always said to me: 'Come on, come on!

Do it now: Put the Verlaat in the front,'" says Köllner.

"I knew: I have to take risks and force things in the last fifteen minutes."

Said and done.

Köllner reacted, Verlaat forced his header after Lakenmacher's cross.

The flank god, Verlaat in the best Sergio Ramos manner...unfamiliar roles on Saturday afternoon at Höhenberg.

Verlaat was fine: "I also like to play as a striker in training," said the 26-year-old with a smile.

"I'm just happy that I was able to contribute my Teio to the point here today.

That was a team performance with a crowbar to the end.” Verlaat also knew that one could be satisfied with the point: “Dresden lost here, Wiesbaden lost here”, so the tie is a draw.

"We didn't lose away and that's important."

The table lead is still due to a fighting performance that also makes a top team.

Sixty takes all this with him from Cologne.

And not to forget, of course, the realization that Verlaat can also do it in a storm.

"Good to know," says Köllner.

Although this should only remain an emergency solution.

"I reassured Skenderovic and Lakenmacher after the game: Verlaat being up front is not an option." JACOB ALSCHNER