Sebastian Andersson scored two of five first-half goals as Cologne overturned a first-leg deficit and avoided relegation to Germany's second tier with a 5-2 on aggregate win over Holstein Kiel.

Kiel 1-5 Cologne (2-5 on agg.)
Goals: 0-1 Hector (3’), 1-1 Lee (4’), 1-2 Andersson (6‘), 1-3 Andersson (13’), 1-4 Czichos (39'), 1-5  Skhiri (84')

With the visitors trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Cologne wasted no time in levelling the tie in a dramatic opening to proceedings. Ondrej Duda’s delivery from the left wing was superbly met by leaping Billy Goats captain Jonas Hector, who headed into the far corner to restore parity. But Kiel’s response was immediate, as Lee Jae-sung nodded beyond Timo Horn on the follow-up to put the Bundesliga 2 outfit back in front on aggregate. A manic, end-to-end start was then capped with two more headed goals - all inside the first 13 minutes of action - as Andersson diverted two Florian Kainz crosses from the left into the back of the net. Andersson's forehead was the gift that kept on giving and shortly before half-time, the 29-year-old's cushioned header was rifled home by Rafael Czichos from the edge of the home side's 18-yard box.

With Cologne so ruthlessly wiping out Kiel's away-goal advantage, the hosts emerged from the break knowing they would need to score at least three times in the second period to stand any chance of earning promotion. It was Cologne, however, that went closest to adding to the scoreline as Ioannis Gelios denied Duda and Kainz in quick succession. By the hour mark, Andersson had almost grabbed a third on three occasions - one effort dropping onto the crossbar and to safety following another Gelios save - as the away team continued to turn the screw. It meant Kiel's hopes of an historic promotion were fading by the minute and they never quite managed to threaten in an attacking sense beyond Lee's early equaliser. Cologne eventually added to their lead late on courtesy of Ellyes Skhiri's fine effort as they secured another season of Bundesliga football in 2020/21, while forcing Kiel to start over again next term in their bid for a top-flight bow.

Match stats

• This was Cologne's first appearance in the top-flight relegation/promotion playoff, while Kiel were denied in this fixture for the second time in their history. They lost out to Wolfsburg (4-1) at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.
• It was also Andersson's second outing in the play-offs, having also emerged victorious with Union Berlin against VfB Stuttgart in 2018/19.
• Andersson had scored just three Bundesliga goals in 16 appearances in 2020/21 prior to this game.
• Hector was making his 275th appearance for Cologne, and his opener was 31-year-old's 23rd goal for the club.
• Since the play-off was re-introduced to the Bundesliga in 2008/09, only three Bundesliga 2 sides have earned promotion, with this the 10th time the top-flight side has prevailed.
• This was Kiel's ninth game in all competitions in May's 29 days so far, as they ended their campaign with a match every 3.2 days.

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!

Line-ups

Kiel: Gelios - Neumann, Wahl (c), Komenda (Kirkeskov 63'), Lorenz (Mees 46') - Meffert, Mühling - Bartels, Lee, Porath (Girth 46') - Reese (Awuku 88')
Unused subs: Dähne, Reimann, Dehm, Ignjovski, Sterner
Out: Arslan (knee), Serra (muscular), Thesker (Achilles' tendon), van den Bergh (suspended)
Coach: Ole Werner

Cologne: T. Horn - Ehizibue, Bornauw (Mere 46'), Czichos, J. Horn (Jakobs 46') - Skhiri, Hector (c) - Wolf (Thielmann 72'), Duda (Meyer 63'), Kainz - Andersson (Drexler 76')
Unused subs: Zieler, Schmitz, Höger, Özcan
Out: Rexhbecaj (knock)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel 

About the clubs

Holstein Kiel

Holstein-Stadion

1. FC Köln

RheinEnergieSTADION