BERLIN: Stefan Posch got the only goal as Hoffenheim beat Cologne 1-0 amid a host of missed chances by both teams on Sunday to move fourth in the Bundesliga, the last place for Champions League qualification.

Posch’s second-half goal was enough for the visitors to stretch their winning run to four games and move two points clear of RB Leipzig and Freiburg with nine rounds remaining.

Hoffenheim forward Ihlas Bebou missed several good opportunities to score, while Anthony Modeste missed the home team’s best chance of the first half when he fired over with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Bebou began the second half with a header against the post and Modeste had a goal ruled out for offside before Posch finally broke the deadlock in the 61st when he headed in a cross from Germany defender David Raum.

There were further missed chances for both teams with Hoffenheim’s Christoph Baumgartner hitting the post when it looked easier to score. Cologne substitute Tim Lemperle headed just wide in injury time.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2022