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On his comeback after six weeks, captain Jonas Hector saved 1. FC Köln from another bitter defeat in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga.

The ex-national player, plagued by numerous injuries this season, scored the 1-1 (0-0) on Sunday seven minutes before the end against Werder Bremen and saved a point that was ultimately deserved for FC.

Hector had been substituted on twelve minutes earlier and scored his first goal in a ghost game in a year and a day.

However, the goal was controversial because of a possible foul on Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka.

“We played decent football, but the last pass is missing more often.

The 0: 1 was a setback, so we had to shake ourselves briefly.

In the end we have to be happy with the point, ”said Hector after the final whistle.

The Cologne captain looked at his goal soberly: "The ball falls down, I'll lift it in."

Cologne coach Markus Gisdol and Cologne are still in danger of relegation

Source: dpa / Rolf Vennenbernd

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Although the FC had given up their mostly fearful style of play in previous home games, they initially fell behind against extremely defensive Bremer through Joshua Sargent (66th).

With 22 points, Cologne, who scored seven points in twelve home games this season, are four points ahead of a direct relegation rank.

Bremen now have 27 points on their account and with a win in the catch-up game on Wednesday at Arminia Bielefeld, they could finally get rid of all relegation worries.

Meyer in starting XI

Although the last trained striker in the squad with winter access Emmanuel Dennis was sitting outside after two weak games, the FC started much more offensively than in the home games against Augsburg (0-1), Hertha BSC (0-0) and Stuttgart ( 0: 1).

Former national player Max Meyer, who was in the starting line-up this time after only 40 of 450 possible Bundesliga minutes, should ensure more creativity.

“Mixed feeling.

Every point helps in the relegation battle, but with our performance today we would have deserved three points, ”said Meyer after the final whistle.

Bremen striker Joshua Sargent (l.) Cheers with Bremen defender Marco Friedl and Bremen defender Ludwig Augustinsson about his goal to make it 1-0 for Bremen

Source: dpa / Rolf Vennenbernd

The Cologne almost quickly took the lead, but by a standard.

After a corner from Elvis Rexhbecaj, Jan Thielmann volley shot his teammate Ellyes Skhiri, who was standing in the way three meters in front of the goal (2nd).

The insecure referee Matthias Jöllenbeck whistled offside.

Since this concerned Marius Wolf, who was two meters from the post, a goal would have counted in the end.

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The FC played pleasantly and with their more active game shows that they have strong players in their ranks with Meyer, Rexhbecaj, Ondrej Duda and the strong Skhiri.

However, they did not develop any chances from the game.

The second good followed after a corner kick: Skhiri headed from five meters, but Jiri Pavlenka responded quickly with one hand (20th).

Hector hits late

Werder mostly played from a compact defensive position, as was the case recently, but initially failed to showcase their actually strong offensive forces.

The 0-0 despite only 34 percent possession of the ball, 3:11 shots on goal and 0: 6 corners at break was therefore happy.

A real scoring chance for Bremer was not to be noted in the first half.

The first followed after 81 seconds of the second half by Ludwig Augustinsson, whose shot from about ten meters was parried by Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn with his foot.

Cologne still had more of the ball, but apparently a slight fear of the decisive counterattack crept in.

The Bremer felt that and hit by Sargent's header after a cross from Romano Schmid ice cold.

FC coach Markus Gisdol now brought Dennis and captain Hector.

And the ex-international managed to equalize when he dusted off from a short distance.

The FC was lucky that a possible foul play by Dennis against Pavlenka was not punished beforehand.

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