Die Geißböcke play spoiler, defeating Hamburg 1-0

Die Geißböcke took a step closer to Cheftrainer Christoph Daum's goals of forty points with a 1-0 defeat of Hamburg at Volksparkstadion. The victory simultaneously brings the two match slide to an end but also stakes Köln's claim as the "spoiler" as result casts HSV's once brilliant season on the verge of disaster as they have now slipped from a spot in European football.

Once again Thomas Kessler was handled the goalkeeping duties with Faryd Mondragon out but Köln was further challenged without top-scorer Milivoje Novakovič, Pierre Wome and Youssef Mohamad. Surprising because of the poor quality defending Köln scored the only goal of the day nine minutes in as Kessler's long ball down the middle was left unchallenged and after bouncing Fabrice Ehret held off Collin Benjamin for the ball and fired the ball in from twelve metres. How this evaded attention of both Guy Demel and Joris Mathijsen was surprising however the key fundamental error of proved to be the catalyst of Köln's goal. For the balance of the match HSV were unable to press into the final third and picture perfect defending of Köln didn't allow a single notable attempt challenge Thomas Kessler's day.

Next Saturday RheinEnergieStadion will be the setting for the final match of the year as Köln welcomes Bochum.