Taiwo Awoniyi scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season to help Mainz secure a 2-2 draw with Cologne at the RheinEnergie Stadion.
Kingsley Ehizibue surprisingly started on the bench, but Cologne picked up were they left off before the coronavirus-induced break by dispatching Mainz 05 with ease on Sunday afternoon.
There were only six minutes on the clock when Mark Uth handed the hosts the lead from the penalty spot.
The visitors responded instantly with striker Karim Onisiwo’s runs and dribbles troubling the home side.
But the Billy Goats, promoted back to the top flight this season, didn’t look anything like the pathetic side that endured a torrid start to the campaign, losing 10 of their opening 14 matches.
Even without their fans, Markus Gisdol’s men stood firm, in the face of constant Mainz pressure, to protect their slender lead heading into the interval.
Florian Kainz doubled Cologne’s lead shortly after the restart with a header off a Dominick Drexler cross.
That second goal stunned Mainz’s manager into action, as Nigeria youth international Taiwo Awoniyi was thrown into the fray minutes later.
The on-loan Liverpool forward little time in proving his worth, halving his side’s deficit on with delightful finish.
The visitors were back in control and their equalizer arrived soon after when Pierre Kunde converted from inside the box.
Cologne were stunned and Ehizibue was introduced for the injured Benno Schmitz with ten minutes left to play to help shore up their leaking defense.
Cologne have now won nine of their last 12 league games, sitting on a 14 point cushion over the relegation spots and now in serious contention for Europa League qualification.
