Hoffenheim 3 : 4 Koln - Cologne battle to thrilling win

Cologne came from behind and responded to being pegged back by beating Hoffenheim 4-3 at the Rhein Neckar Arena.

Adam Szalai gave the hosts the lead after just two minutes, but Pawel Olowski scored his first goal for Cologne to level soon after.

Matthias Lehmann then put Cologne in front before Anthony Ujah doubled their advantage.

Two goals before half-time from Roberto Firmino brought Hoffenheim back on terms, but it was Olkowski who clinched victory for Cologne less than 10 minutes from time.

It looked like business as usual for Hoffenheim when they took the lead in the second minute, Szalai sweeping a low, right-footed shot inside the near post of Timo Horn.

Their lead did not last long, though, with Olkowski bringing Cologne level with his first goal of the season from just outside the penalty area into the bottom left-hand corner.

Hoffenheim were stunned, having looked in control of the game, and they still seemed to be in charge of their own destiny when they fell behind.

Lehmann took advantage of a badly placed wall to curl his free-kick into the side of Oliver Baumann's goal which, in theory, should have been covered.

Another mistake then invited Ujah to add a third for Cologne with three Hoffenheim defenders just standing and watching as he took the ball past Baumann before slotting it into the unguarded goal.

Having previously scored seven goals all season, they had three within half an hour.

It was time for Hoffenheim to respond with the kind of football which had made them one of the league's top goalscorers this season and Firmino brought them back into the game after exchanging passes with Tarik Elyounoussi and supplying the finish.

On the stroke of half-time, the Brazilian levelled matters with a header from Kevin Volland's cross.

Hoffenheim continued to take the game to their guests in the second half, albeit with less of a cutting edge.

Szalai wasted chances with Volland and Firmino also guilty of misses before they received their comeuppance.

If Olkowski's first ever Bundesliga goal had been quite easy, his second was anything but as he threaded his shot from outside the penalty area low into the far corner of Baumann's goal to earn his side all three points.