Bitter end in the cup, little consolation in the Bundesliga - a meager week with three games without a win has thrown 1. FC Köln off the road to success.

Four days after losing on penalties against the second division club Hamburger SV and a week after the clear home defeat against FC Bayern Munich (0:4), coach Steffen Baumgart's team had to settle for a happy 2:2 at VfL Bochum.

Although the team remained undefeated in their fifth away game in a row, they missed a closer approach to the places that are required for a start in the qualify for the European Cup. In front of 750 spectators in the Ruhr Stadium, Bochum's goalscorers Gerit Holtmann (25') and Takuma Asano (70') ensured the promoted team's deserved draw.

As a consequence of the poor performance against HSV, Cologne coach Baumgart had radically restructured his team and called six new professionals into the starting XI.

However, FC didn't seem really solid after this measure at first.

Because Bochum, who started the game with tailwind after the round of 16 success in the cup over Mainz in contrast to the guests, were close to 1-0 early on.

But the shot from Milos Pantovic (6th), who has recently gained a reputation as an art shooter after various goals worth seeing, was blocked by the FC defense in dire need.

Lucky for FC Cologne

VfL remained the more active team in the minutes that followed.

After a counterattack by the fast Holtmann (17th), Marvin Schwäbe, who Baumgart named number 1 a few days ago, prevented Bochum from taking the lead with a foot defense.

Only after around 20 largely passive minutes did Cologne intensify their offensive game, but missed their first good opportunity through Modeste (23rd).

That wasn't a wake-up call for the team, just two minutes later FC were 1-0 down.

Holtmann skilfully completed a counterattack via Bochum's new signing Jürgen Locadia with a shot through the legs of keeper Schwäbe.

FC only escaped another Bochum goal with a lot of luck when Schwäbe parried an attempt by Locadia (34th) from close range.

A goal out of the proverbial well-known nothing brought di eKölner back into the game.

After a corner by Florian Kainz and brief confusion in VfL's solid defense, Hübers was on the spot from ten meters and ensured the Cologne team's happy equaliser.

But that's not all: just before half-time, Modeste turned the game upside down.

After a pass from Kainz, the Cologne striker didn't give Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann a chance with a sensitive lob.

Even after the restart, Bochum kept the pressure on and pushed for the equaliser.

But Eduard Löwen (53rd) missed the great opportunity to ensure a fairer score up to that point.

After a pass from Pantovic, the free-standing midfielder shot the ball over the goal from around ten meters.

The Cologne team primarily limited themselves to their defensive work - and this passivity was punished.

Substitute Takuma defeated Cologne goalkeeper Schwäbe with a low shot into the far corner.