Marcel Risse scored twice as FC Koln started the second half of the Bundesliga season with a 2-0 victory over Hamburger SV.
It was a difficult start for Koln, and they could have been behind inside 10 minutes had Timo Horn not managed to get a hand to Rafael van der Vaart's curling effort.
Anthony Ujah came close to breaking the deadlock for the visitors in spectacular fashion as he hurdled a couple of challenges in the box before testing Jaroslav Drobny with a powerful strike.
Koln started to take control as the half-time interval approached, and they were inches away from the opener when Slawomir Peszko headed over from a promising position.
Another extended spell of pressure from the visitors arrived early in the second half, and they were rewarded with a breakthrough just after the hour mark.
The hosts were unable to deal with a long ball forward, and Risse capitalised by beating the offside trap before finishing from a tight angle.
Koln looked comfortable after earning a deserved lead, and the victory was secured 15 minutes from time when Risse sprinted clear of a couple of defenders to slot his second of the afternoon past Drobny.
Callum Mulvihill
