Cordoba and Kainz braces ease Cologne to win at Hertha

Hertha 0-5 Cologne
Goals: 0-1 Cordoba (4'), 0-2 Cordoba (22'), 0-3 Kainz (38'), 0-4 Kainz (62'), 0-5 Uth (69')

With Carnival in full swing back in Cologne, the visitors were in the mood to celebrate early on, despite the loss of captain Jonas Hector in the warm-up. Markus Gisdol’s men made light of the late withdrawal, racing into a 1-0 lead after just four minutes as Mark Uth played in Cordoba to finish off a rapid-fire counter attack. Hertha found themselves even further behind midway through the first half as Cordoba thumped December Rookie of the Month Ismail Jakob's cross past Rune Jarstein with a superb diving header. Cordoba turned provider just before the break, laying off to Kainz who fired home via Jarstein and the Hertha post to make it 3-0 to the Billy Goats.

Hertha's new-look front two of Krzysztof Piatek and Matheus Cunha had little in the way of first-half service, resulting in the Brazilian being replaced by Dodi Lukebakio at the start of the second period. Vladimir Darida was also introduced in place of Arne Meier, and the double change brought about an immediate urgency to the home side's play, quickly forcing Timo Horn into action for his first save of note in the match. But Hertha were dealt the hammer blow of a fourth Cologne goal on the hour mark, thanks to another ruthless counter finished off by Kainz for his second of the game. They had a fifth shortly after, Uth curling home a sumptuous free-kick on the edge of the Hertha box to wrap up a first Cologne win at the Olympiastadion in over a decade.

• Piatek has had 10 shots on goal in the Bundesliga, but is yet to get his first league goal for Hertha.
• The Old Lady had won seven of the last nine Bundesliga matches against Cologne prior to kick-off. This was Cologne's first league win at the Olympiastadion since a 1-0 victory on 8 November 2009.
• Cordoba's eighth and ninth league goals of the campaign were his first away from home.
• Uth has scored or assisted in each of his five Bundesliga games for Cologne (three goals and three assists). It means he’s already had a hand in more goals than in his 28 league appearances for Schalke.
• Cologne’s only defeats under Gisdol have come against the top three (Bayern, RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund) and in Berlin at Union. They’re also yet to lose two on the bounce under Achim Beierlorzer’s replacement.
• Cologne’s 1-0 loss to Hertha at the Olympiastadion in September 1969 holds the record for the highest attendance at a Bundesliga game (88,075).

Watch: Jhon Cordoba is in the Carnival mood!

Hertha: Jarstein - Stark (c), Boyata, Rekik - Wolf, Meier (Darida 46'), Ascacibar, Grujic, Mittelstädt - Piatek, Cunha (Lukebakio 46')
Unused subs: Kraft, Skjelbred, Klünter, Köpke, Ibisevic, Plattenhardt, Torunarigha
Out: -
Coach: Alexander Nouri

Cologne: Horn (c) - Ehizibue, Leistner, Czichos (Mere 43'), Schmitz - Skhiri, Rexhbecaj - Kainz, Uth, Jakobs (Höger, 78') - Cordoba (Terrode 73')
Unused subs: Krahl, Risse, Schindler, Drexler, Thielmann
Out: Bornauw (suspended), Katterbach (ankle), Kessler (calf), Hector (muscular)
Coach: Markus Gisdol

Watch: Mark Uth: "We played for the club and the city"