Leon Balogun suffers home defeat to Cologne

Leon Balogun

Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun, and his FSV Mainz 05 teammates were left to rue missed opportunities after they allowed a two-goal lead slip to lose 2-3 at home to Cologne on Sunday.

The 27-year-old German-born Nigerian thought he had given Mainz all three points after doubling his side’s lead few minutes into the second half but three quick goals from the visitors meant otherwise.

Balogun, whose goal was his first in 22 outings for the Die Nullfünfer this term, scored out of a beautiful cross from Daniel Brosinski.

His strike was preceded by Jhon Cordoba’s beauty which gave the hosts the lead after just seven minutes.

But a superb Marcel Risse drive grabbed a goal back for the visitors and Milos Jojic equalised after 73 minutes, staying just onside to turn in a Yannick Gerhardt cross-cum-shot for his first league goal of the season.

Anthony Modeste completed an incredible turnaround for his side by racing on to a lofted Matthias Lehmann pass to smash a low volley past Loris Karius with seven minutes to play.

Cologne climb up to 10th place in the Bundesliga thanks to their win, six points clear of the relegation play-off place, while Mainz remain four points behind Hertha Berlin in the race for the final Champions League qualification spot.