Bundesliga Thriller: Ehizibue’s Cologne Return From The Dead To Draw Fortuna Dusseldorf

Cologne pulled a brilliant come back of their own to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat in a 2-2 thriller against Fortuna Dusseldorf at the RheinEnergie Stadion on Sunday.

Just days after the Billy Goats lost a two-goal to draw to Mainz, Kingsley Ehizibue helped the club maintain their unbeaten run since the restart of the Bundesliga.

Kenan Karaman’s fine finish late in the first half and an Erik Thommy strike early in the second appeared to have condemned the hosts to their 14th defeat of the campaign.

But two late, late headers from Anthony Modeste and pulled the hosts back from the brink and secured their second consecutive stalemates in as many match days. 

The Billy Goats were the favourites ahead of kickoff with their excellent run of form in the second half of the Bundesliga campaign, helping them to eight wins in their last 12 fixtures since mid-December.

But their Europa League charge suffered another massive blow after losing to a Dusseldorf side that could not even take advantage of basement boys Paderborn last weekend at the Esprit Arena.

The home side arrived the more frustrated of the two teams having thrown away a two-goal lead at home to Mainz last time out – they had led 2-0 and won the shot count 11-6 but drew the match 2-2.

But it was F95 who took the lead four minutes to the break thanks to Karaman, who converted with a right footed shot from the right side of the box off an assist by Steven Skrzybski.

On the hour-mark, Cologne had the chance to draw level, but Florian Kastenmeier, in the visitors’ goal, blocked Mark Uth’s spot-kick.

Ehizibue made way for Jorge Mere in a tactical substitution, but it did little to aid the hosts’ cause as more trouble soon followed.

Fortuna made the game safe when the brilliant Skrzybski supplied yet another assist for Thommy to double the visitors’ lead. 

Modeste glanced home a late header to reduce the deficit and set up a frantic finish to an exhilarating encounter. Still, Fortuna held on to claim only their sixth win of the season. 

There was no Maduka Okoye in the lineup for the visitors as the Super Eagles goalkeeper is reportedly closed to moving to the Eredivisie.