Sargent scores again as Bremen draw with Cologne

Cologne 1-1 Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Sargent (66'), 1-1 Hector (83')

Cologne began the day just three points above relegation zone and determined to increase that gap. They were more aggressive and showed greater purpose going forward, even if Bremen did have the first two chances of the game. Niclas Füllkrug glanced a header wide in the seventh minute, and the striker jinked past a couple of defenders in a crowded box five minutes later to get a shot away, but his effort with his weaker left foot was no trouble for Timo Horn. Cologne did have the best opportunity of the first half though, when the unmarked Ellyes Skhiri was afforded a free header from a corner but he could only direct his effort straight at goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka from six yards out.

The away side were much improved after the interval and signalled their intent early on when Milot Rashica wriggled free down the left and laid the ball off for Ludwig Augustinsson. The Swede's shot was well saved by Horn, but the rebound fell kindly for Kevin Möhwald, who side-footed wide from the edge of the box. Sargent showed him how it was done midway through the half when he peeled away from his marker at the back post to meet Romano Schmid’s precise right-wing cross and guide a textbook header into the net. Cologne coach Markus Gisdol reacted by making a triple substitution, and they proved to be inspired changes as Emmanuel Dennis outjumped Pavlenka to get his head on a cross from the left, knocking it down to follow substitute Hector to tap into an empty net from close range. Both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages but ultimately had to settle for a deserved point apiece.

• Meyer made his first start for Cologne since joining the club in January. It was the former Schalke midfielder's first Bundesliga start since 7 April 2018.
• Sargent has now scored four league goals this term, equalling his personal best in a single Bundesliga season. Three of those four have come in 2021.
• Hector scored for the first time in almost exactly a year. His last Bundesliga goal was on 6 March 2020 against Paderborn.
• It was Hector's 10th Bundesliga goal overall, and first as a substitute.

Watch: Sargent: Scoring form down to "hard work"

Cologne: T. Horn (c) - Mere, J. Horn, Katterbach - Wolf, Skhiri, Meyer, Jakobs (Limnios 71') - Rexhbecaj (Hector 71') - Duda (Dennis 71'), Thielmann (Drexler 66')
Unused subs: Zieler, Schmitz, Ehizibue, Özcan, Cestic
Out: Andersson (knee), Bornauw (back), Czichos (suspended), Kainz (knee)
Coach: Markus Gisdol
 
Bremen: Pavlenka - Veljkovic, Toprak, Friedl - Gebre Selassie (c), Eggestein, Möhwald (Schmid 57'), Augustinsson (Agu 90'+1) - Sargent (Selke 86'), Rashica - Füllkrug (Bittencourt 57')
Unused subs: Dos Santos, Osako, Moisander, Mbom, Groß
Out: Plogmann (knee), Zetterer (elbow)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt