Cologne bounce back to Bundesliga at first attempt

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne's Jhon Cordoba scores their third goal REUTERS/Michael Dalder DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

BERLIN (Reuters) - Cologne, relegated from the Bundesliga last season, bounced back at the first attempt as they guaranteed promotion on Monday with a 4-0 win at Greuther Fuerth thanks to a Jhon Cordoba hat-trick.

Needing a draw to ensure their return to the top flight, the Billy Goats raced to a 3-0 halftime lead as they wrapped up the title with two matches to spare.

Cordoba took advantage of slack marking to give Cologne an eighth-minute lead before Daniel Steininger headed into his own net from a corner and Cordoba turned in Dominick Drexler's pass four minutes before halftime.

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Michael Dalder

The Colombian completed his hat-trick with a header in the 65th minute as Cologne won promotion from the second tier for the sixth time since 1999/2000, and the fourth time as champions.

(Writing by Brian Homewood, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne's Jhon Cordoba celebrates scoring their fourth goal and completing his hat-trick with team mates REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne's Jonas Hector in action with Greuther Fuerth's Maximilian Sauer REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne's Simon Terodde in action REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne's Benno Schmitz shoots at goal before Greuther Fuerth's Daniel Steininger scores an own goal and the second for Cologne REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne fans before the match REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Michael Dalder

Soccer Football - 2. Bundesliga - Greuther Fuerth v FC Cologne - Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, Fuerth, Germany - May 6, 2019 FC Cologne players celebrate after the match REUTERS/Michael Dalder