Yuya Osako (l.) celebrates putting 1. FC Köln in the lead at Stuttgart, and becoming the second Japanese player to score for the club
Yuya Osako (l.) celebrates putting 1. FC Köln in the lead at Stuttgart, and becoming the second Japanese player to score for the club

Köln and Paderborn get first wins, spoils shared in Bremen

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Cologne - Promoted new-boys 1. FC Köln and SC Paderborn 07 enjoyed Matchday 2 wins over VfB Stuttgart and Hamburger SV respectively, while SV Werder Bremen and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim played out an entertaining draw.

VfB Stuttgart 0-2 1. FC Köln

bundesliga.com rounds up the best of Saturday afternoon's action...

1. FC Köln picked up their first Bundesliga win in over two years thanks to a 2-0 success over VfB Stuttgart in the Mercedes-Benz-Arena.

Köln arrived not having lost in Stuttgart since 1997 and looking to make their happy hunting ground the venue for their first top-flight win after a two year hiatus. They began aggressively and Stuttgart full-back Gotoku Sakai was forced to clear off the line after only seven minutes as Anthony Ujah met a Daniel Halfar corner. Halfar turned provider in the 24th minute when his flicked header could only be parried by Sven Ulreich in the Stuttgart goal, and Yuya Osako was on hand to turn in the rebound at the back post.

Ujah doubles the lead


Ujah made it two ten minutes later, capitalising on Antonio Rüdiger's weak defensive header to double the visitors' lead. He rode a challenge before arrowing a low shot into the bottom right-hand corner of Ulreich's goal, and although Stuttgart began to exert some control before the break through Oriol Romeu and Christian Gentner, the Billy Goats went into the dressing room two goals to the good.

It remained that way in the second-half, despite increasing pressure from the hosts. Vedad Ibisevic dropped deeper and deeper, linking up well with Alexandru Maxim and Daniel Didavi in attacking midfield, and although Stuttgart enjoyed nearly 65 per cent of possession, the Köln defence stood firm, allowing only the odd shot from distance from Gentner. The three points made it the visitors' best start to a season for nine years, while Stuttgart are left questioning how to beat Köln on home soil.

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Hamburger SV 0-3 SC Paderborn 07


SC Paderborn 07 recorded their first ever top-flight victory in style with a comfortable 3-0 win at Hamburger SV at the Imtech Arena.

The visitors took the lead just before the half-hour with a fine counter-attacking move which was finished off by Elias Kachunga for his second goal of the season. The former Hertha Berlin striker thought he had doubled the Bundesliga newcomers' lead just five minutes later, but his header was ruled out for offside by the assistant referee.

Vrancic pounces


Hamburg should have levelled the score on 62 minutes when Marcell Jansen's cross from the left-hand side was met inside the six-yard box by Pierre-Michel Lasogga, but the striker failed to hit the target with the goal at his mercy. Lasogga's miss proved crucial, too, when Mario Vrancic intercepted Artjoms Rudnevs' wayward pass in midfield before rounding Rene Adler and firing into an empty net to double Paderborn's lead.

Rudnevs almost atoned for his earlier error late on when he set up Ivo Ilicevic, but Lukas Kruse did well to keep out the Croatian's effort. The visitors put the seal on their first ever Bundesliga with three minutes remaining, Moritz Stoppelkamp firing past Rene Adler to complete a memorable win.

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SV Werder Bremen 1-1 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim


An entertaining game between Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim ended 1-1 at the Weser-Stadion.

Bremen coach Robin Dutt opted to bring in striker Davie Selke and drop Luca Caldirola to the bench, and the youngster linked well with Franco di Santo as Bremen made a positive enough start. The threat of Hoffenheim's Roberto Firmino was always lingering, however. Bremen failed to pick up on the repeated warnings and in the 19th minute, Firmino floated in behind the defence to meet Sebastian Rudy’s cross-filed pass.

Sublime goals at both ends


Without allowing the ball to touch the ground, the Brazilian rounded Raphael Wolf in the Bremen goal to open the scoring. The strike enabled Hoffenheim to take control, dominating possession and firing in effort after effort through Kevin Volland and Firmino, although they couldn't capitalise before the break.

They were made to pay for their profligacy after 15 minutes of the second period. Defensive midfielder Alejandro Galvez took the ball on his chest with his back to goal before rifling a shot into the bottom right-hand corner, sending the home fans into raptures. Bremen pressed further looking for a winner in the last quarter of an hour but Di Santo, Zlatko Junuzovic and substitute all snatched at chances, as the northerners had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Line-ups and statistics