Agency :
Cologne lost for the first time on home soil this season after second-half goals from Andre Hahn and Niklas Dorsch secured Augsburg a 2-0 victory at the curtain raiser of the German Bundesliga 15th round on Friday.
Augsburg implemented a wait-and-see strategy from the starting whistle and let Cologne do the work.
The hosts started bright and produced the first chance of the game with just two minutes gone as Anthony Modeste’s header missed the target just wide.
As the game clock ticked, Augsburg created more momentum and came close through Andre Hahn, whose long-range effort touched the crossbar before Michael Gregoritsch’s goal got ruled offside in the 12th minute.
Cologne dominated possession but failed to turn its dominance into a tangible reward whereas Augsburg worked out the better chances before the break, but Daniel Caligiuri and Ruben Vargas lacked in precision in front of the target.
After the restart, both sides exchanged attacks as Anthony Modeste’s header forced Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz into action in the 51st minute while Hahn tested Cologne custodian Marvin Schwabe with a 17-meter hammer two minutes later.
The visitors eventually marked the opener in the 72nd minute when Schwabe parried a cross into the path of Hahn, who made no mistake and tapped home from very close range.
Cologne couldn’t respond as Augsburg made it two in the 88th minute to put the result beyond doubt after Dorsch drilled the ball into the back of the net with a thunderous 28-meter effort.
