Thanks to a dominant performance in the second half, 1. FC Köln won 3-1 (1-1) against SG Eintracht Frankfurt. Alex Meier put the visitors in the lead (24') before Yannick Gerhardt equalised (29') minutes later. FC dominated the second 45 minutes as Dominique Heintz (57') and Anthony Modeste (72') turned the match to earn three points on the club's 68th birthday.

After a passionate and convincing performance in Hamburg, Peter Stöger opted not to make any changes to his starting line-up despite the return of the suspended Matthias Lehmann.

Zoller injured

The match started with a highly motivated FC side. However, just 10 minutes into the match, Simon Zoller picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Lehmann (13'). This resulted in several changes. Lehmann teamed up with Hector in central midfield and Gerhardt continued on the wing. 3 minutes later he entered the box from the left but struck the ball wide (16').

Meier takes the lead

Right off the start, Frankfurt showed their ability to create chances from set pieces. Szabolcs Huszti tested Timo Horn with a towering header from a corner, but the in-form keeper reacted incredibly (22'). 24 minutes into the match, Mavraj lost the ball unnecessarily and Cologne could not make the clearance. Huszti then found Meier, who finished with his right foot from within the box (24').

Gerhardt levels

Unmoved by the turn of events, FC were quick to react. Modeste won the ball at the edge of the Eintracht box and quickly delivered it to Gerhardt, who netted clinically into the bottom left corner from 12 yards (29'). In the following, both teams struggled hard to produce further scoring chances. Just before referee Zwayer's half-time whistle Modeste tried Frankfurt keeper Hradecky, but the match went into the break with a 1-1 draw.

Heintz turns the match

The second half started with Marcel Risse's 5th yellow of the season, which means he will miss the derby in Mönchengladbach next week. The match was heating up at this stage as both sides were awarded several free kicks. 57 minutes into the match, new arrival Filip Mladenovic took a disputed set piece from the right. The Serb found Heintz, who headed the ball into the right corner to give FC the 2-1 lead.

Lehmann hits the bar – Modeste increases

Frankfurt coach Veh went for an additional striker and brought on Haris Seferovic for Makoto Hasebe (60'). Thus, there was much more space for Cologne to counterattack. First, Lehmann hit the bar from just a few yards out following a delicious cross from Mladenovic (63'). Then Gerhardt could not beat Hradecky from a 1v1 situation (68'). But in minute 72 Gerhardt stayed cool in a similar situation and squared it off to Modeste, who easily slotted it home to decide the match with his 10th goal of the season. In the closing minutes FC were in full control of the events. Modeste nearly added a second goal, but was denied by Hradecky in added time.

Derby next week

After this convincing home victory FC will travel to Mönchengladbach next week to play Borussia in the Rhine derby on Saturday, February 20th (15:30).

1. FC Köln: Horn – Risse, Maroh, Mavraj, Heintz, Mladenovic (76' Vogt) – Hector, Zoller (13' Lehmann), Gerhardt, Bittencourt (83' Sorensen)– Modeste

SG Eintracht Frankfurt: Hradecky – Regäsel, Russ, Abraham, Oczipka – Hasebe (60' Seferovic), Stendera – Aigner, M. Fabian (73' Ben-Hatira), Huszti – A. Meier

Goals: 0-1 A. Meier (24', Huszti), 1-1 Gerhardt (29', Modeste), 2-1 Heintz (57', Mladenovic), 3-1 Modeste (72', Gerhardt)

Yellow cards: Risse (54'), Modeste (66') | M. Fabian (19'), Regäsel (50'), Hasebe (52'), Russ (66'), Stendera (66'), Oczipka (82')

Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)

Attendance: 49,200