AP, Berlin :
Philippe Coutinho scored his first Bundesliga goal – twice – and Robert Lewandowski kept his scoring run going in Bayern Munich’s 4-0 win over 10-man Cologne on Saturday.
After scoring a penalty in the 60th minute, Coutinho was forced to take it again as too many players had encroached in the area while he was taking it. He didn’t delay at the second asking and scored for the first time since joining Bayern on loan from Barcelona.
Coutinho looked set to score from open play in the 59th but was brought down by Kingsley Ehizibue, who was sent off for Cologne.
Coutinho later set up Ivan Perisic in the 73rd as Bayern moved second, two points behind early leader Leipzig, which defeated injury-hit Werder Bremen 3-0 in the late game.
Lewandowski grabbed the first two goals to take his league-leading tally to nine in five games.
Cologne was already finding its Bundesliga return difficult with three defeats in four games, and any hopes the promoted side had of bucking the trend were given short shrift when Lewandowski got Bayern off to a flying start in the third minute.
The Poland striker matched Carsten Jancker’s record of scoring in the first five league games of the season for Bayern. Jancker managed it 19 years before.
The visitors were unable to keep up with the home side’s pace. Coutinho, who was leading Bayern’s attacking play, struck the post with a free kick.
Cologne regrouped toward the end of the half but couldn’t force an equalizer.
Lewandowski grabbed his second in the 48th with a header from a corner, before Coutinho went on to steal the limelight.
Javairo Dilrosun scored a brilliant solo goal as Hertha Berlin defeated fellow struggler Paderborn 2-1 for its first win of the season.
The Dutch winger said afterward he did not know how many Paderborn defenders he passed before opening the scoring in the 10th minute.
“I’ll have to look at the replay,” Dilrosun said.
Hertha’s plan was to let the visitors have the ball and then hit on the counterattack. But Ante Covic can’t have anticipated his side would allow so many chances. Hertha goalkeeper Rune Jarstein ensured it remained 1-0 ahead at the break.
