El Mala brothers combine for Köln away draw at Union Berlin

Malek El Mala scored an equaliser into the second half to make it 1-1 for 1. FC Köln away at Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts lined up a new attack with Lian Burcu up front with Tim Skarke in replacement for Mekhi Gray who had a poor game in the 5-0 loss to Köln on Tuesday.

Union Berlin started the game off the better side with a lot more promising attacks and possession in the Köln half.

Tim Skarke was strong in attack in holding off the ball as he passed it to Janik Haberer to make it 1-0 for Union Berlin with a shot on a practically empty net.

Even after this game, Köln failed to get much together in the game in an attacking sense with Tuesday’s protagonists Said El Mala and Linton Maina failing to see much of the ball or chances.

During the 37th minute, Zeno Van den Busch got a yellow card for a foul on Said El Mala in a contentious decision where Köln players were asking for a red.

In the 43rd minute, Marvin Schwäbe parried a shot from Union’s Burcu onto the crossbar. 

The second half provided more fouls and yellow cards than meaningful action within the first ten minutes after the break with Union Berlin and Köln picking up a yellow a piece.

Köln made three changes in the second half in bringing on the second El Mala in Malek El Mala and also Mikey Moore and Alessio Castro-Montes.

For the away side, Oliver Burke came on alongside Kemlein in the second half.

During the 73rd minute, Köln’s Said El Mala had a chance on the volley following a corner to score but he was unable to do so as the score remained 1-0 to the hosts.

The subtituted Kemlein received a yellow card for Union Berlin in the 76th minute for a tactical foul preventing a counter.

In the 79th minute, Malek El Mala (the older brother of 1. FC Köln) scored his first goal ever on his debut to make it 1-1.

Joel Schmied had a shot from distance in the 88th minute for Köln as Union Berlin drop deeper and deeper into their own half.

Mikey Moore had a great chance at the end of the game as Said El Mala passed the ball to him in the box but he was unable to make it 2-1 and the game ended 1-1.