1. FC Cologne secured a 1-1 (0-0) draw at FC St. Pauli's Millerntor Stadium. Karol Mets put the hosts ahead in the 69th minute, but Luca Waldschmidt equalized from the penalty spot in the 86th. The result keeps Cologne five points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
The Bundesliga match on matchday 30 started five minutes late due to fan pyrotechnics. In front of 29,546 spectators at Hamburg's Millerntor Stadium, the first half ended goalless. Saïd El Mala missed early (7th minute), while Andréas Hountondji was denied by Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe (33rd).
In the second half, El Mala hit the crossbar (54th). St. Pauli took the lead through Karol Mets' header from a corner (69th). Cologne interim coach René Wagner remained unbeaten in his third game. Marius Bülter had cleared off the line shortly before.
The equalizer came from the spot: Mets fouled Jakub Kaminski, and Luca Waldschmidt converted (86th). "It is enormously important for us that we kept the distance," Schwäbe told Sky. St. Pauli's Hauke Wahl said: "We deserved more."
Cologne are now unbeaten in five games and lead the relegation play-off spot by five points over Hamburg. St. Pauli stay 16th.
