Cologne boost survival hopes

LUKAS PODOLSKI and Milivoje Novakovic each netted a brace as Cologne gave their Bundesliga survival hopes a further boost with a convincing 4-2 victory over Mainz yesterday.

Frank Schafer’s side, who stunned champions Bayern Munich 3-2 last weekend, were one up through Podolski after just three minutes and, although Sami Allagui levelled, Novakovic soon restored Cologne’s lead.

Podolski and Novakovic were on target again in the second-half to seal another impressive victory – and lift Cologne out of the drop zone – despite a late consolation from Petar Sliskovic.