Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne's Florian Kainz celebrates scoring their second goal with Dominick Drexler, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS
Cologne squandered a two-goal lead and had to sweat to rescue a point in their 2-2 draw with visitors Mainz 05 on Sunday in their first Bundesliga game back after a two-month suspension due to the COVID-19 virus.
Cologne, looking for their fourth straight league win, thought they had wrapped up the match played without spectators after early goals in each half.
Despite the lack of fans, Cologne had some support as about 1,300 season-ticket holders sent in their favourite club items -- team shirts, scarves or stuffed animals -- which were draped over the empty seats.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 1. FSV Mainz 05's Pierre Kunde Malong celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS
Mark Uth converted a sixth-minute penalty he won himself and Florian Kainz headed in a perfect Dominick Drexler cross at the far post in the 52nd minute.
But Mainz, led by former Cologne coach Achim Beierlorzer, cut the deficit through Taiwo Awoniyi in the 61st and levelled 11 minutes later thanks to Kunde Malong's 30-metre solo run and fine finish from inside the box. They also went close to scoring a third in the final minutes.
"I am not saying I am satisfied but we can live with the point," Cologne coach Markus Gisdol, who succeeded Beierlorzer, said. "That goal (in the second half) was not good for us. It made us too passive. We gave away too much space but maybe that is normal after such a short preparation to return."
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 General view inside the stadium during the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Holger Schmidt/Pool via REUTERS
Cologne remained 10th in the standings on 33 points while Mainz moved four points above the relegation playoff spot.
Leaders Bayern Munich are top on 58 points after beating Union Berlin 2-0 later on Sunday. Borussia Dortmund are a point behind following Saturday's 4-0 victory over Schalke 04.
The Bundesliga on Saturday became the first major league in the world to restart amid the pandemic.
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 1. FSV Mainz 05's Jerry St. Juste in action with FC Cologne's Benno Schmitz and John Cordoba, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS
A set of strict health regulations are governing the matches, including a ban on spectators in or around the stadiums to minimise the risk of infection.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond and Christian Radnedge)
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne's Mark Uth in action with 1. FSV Mainz 05's Moussa Niakhate, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne's Mark Uth looks dejected after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 General view of the players on the pitch after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne's Kingsley Schindler in action with FSV Mainz 05's Aaron Caricol, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne's Florian Kainz celebrates scoring their second goal with Dominick Drexler, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne's Mark Uth celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERSSoccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 1. FSV Mainz 05's Pierre Kunde Malong in action with FC Cologne's Ellyes Skhiri, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 1. FSV Mainz 05's Karim Onisiwo in action with FC Cologne's Jonas Hector, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS Soccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne's Jonas Hector and Benno Schmitz wearing protective face masks with Toni Leistner after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERSSoccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne coach Markus Gisdol with Timo Horn and Jonas Hector after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERSSoccer Football - Bundesliga - FC Cologne v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany - May 17, 2020 FC Cologne players after the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Lars Baron/Pool via REUTERS
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