FC Koln have sealed their place in the third round of the DFB-Pokal after surviving a scare to beat third-tier outfit Duisburg 4-1 on penalties tonight.
The pre-match favourites lived up to their billing by dominating the opening stages, with Simon Zoller going closest by heading a Kazuki Nagasawa cross over the bar on 21 minutes.
The hosts slowly grew into the encounter though and Zlatko Janjic saw an ambitious 35-yard drive well-saved by Timo Horn shortly after.
Both clubs exchanged blows for much of the second half, but Duisburg experienced a boost in their bid for an upset on 71 minutes when Slawomir Peszko was given a straight red card.
Cologne were forced to hang on, and did so admirably as their defence repelled wave after wave of attack from the hosts to earn extra-time.
Peter Stoger's side were unfortunate not to defy their numerical disadvantage when Zoller struck the post but both sides were ultimately forced to determine the outcome from the spot.
Duisburg missed their first two penalties, with Horn saving from Janjic and Dennis Grote, while Matthias Lehmann and Kevin Vogt converted for Koln.
Kevin Wimmer then gave Koln a three-goal lead, before Rolf Feltscher got the hosts off the mark from 12 yards, but it was in vain as Adam Matuschyk scored the winning penalty to spare his side's blushes.
Shane Callaghan
