Cologne put a part-stadium closure to one side to beat Hoffenheim 3-2 with an excellent performance and boost their hopes of survival.
Matthias Lehmann, Anthony Ujah and German international Jonas Hector scored for the Billy Goats who let off some steam at home once again following their four-goal salvo over Eintracht Frankfurt three weeks ago.
Eugen Polanski cut Hoffenheim's arrears midway through the second half but it proved to be a mere footnote despite the red card shown to right back Pawel Olkowski and the late effort from Anthony Modeste. Cologne, one of the two sides promoted last summer, looks all but secure for next season with the win moving them into 11th on 33 points.
Sunday's first encounter started at an impressive tempo with chances at either end of the pitch that was bathed in scorching weather. After 30 seconds, Roberto Firmino turned quickly on the sixpence and slammed the ball against the post with Timo Horn certainly beaten.
Two of the stadium blocks filled by Cologne's most hardcore supporters were closed for this game by the DFB, but that did little to dampen the atmosphere in the stadium. Cologne would be denied several penalty shouts in the first 45 minutes, the first when Yuya Osako was bundled over from behind by Kim Jin-Su, the Hoffenheim left back.
The referee Peter Sippel waved away strong claims from the Billy Goats, but would hand the hosts the perfect chance to score after 20 minutes. Osako took advantage of some poor defending from Emir Bicakcic and the Bosnian defender bundled down the striker from behind to concede a spot-kick that skipper Lehmann converted from 12 yards.
Peter Stoger's men had 13 shots in the first half, the highest number in one half for the Billy Goats this season. On 41 minutes, Marcel Risse dribbled brilliantly past his marker on the right-wing, but the cross couldn't be turned home by Ujah whose finish struck the foot of the post.
Cologne was dominant into the restart with Olkowski forcing a good save from Oliver Baumann. Three minutes later, the hosts celebrated a second of the day with Ujah finishing a fluid passing move involving Man of the Match Osako and compatriot Kazuki Nagasawa who started for the first time this season.
On 69 minutes, Olkowski was dismissed for denying a clear scoring opportunity for substitute Modeste and Polanski converted his fifth of the season from the resulting spot-kick. Yet despite the setback, Stoger's men netted the all-important next goal courtesy of a spectacular run from languid left-back Hector whose eventual shot was deflected past Baumann into the net.
Modeste's header with four minutes left cut the margin to one goal as Cologne recorded their first win in three games.
