Loïs Openda delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice as Leipzig showcased their prowess in the second half to secure a resounding 5-1 victory over Cologne in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Following this emphatic win, Leipzig climbed to fourth place in the standings, edging two points above Borussia Dortmund, who are set to face Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.
The match kicked off with Leipzig taking the lead in the 15th minute courtesy of Dutch forward Xavi. However, Cologne quickly responded, with Sargis Adamyan finding the back of the net just three minutes later to level the scoreline.
In the second half, Leipzig asserted their dominance, sealing the victory with a flurry of goals within seven minutes.
Openda took center stage, scoring in the 63rd and 67th minutes, while Amadou Haidara extended their lead to 4-1.
Yussuf Poulsen put the finishing touches on the rout with a goal eight minutes before the final whistle.
Openda’s brace further solidified his impressive season tally, with 19 goals to his name, trailing only Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy (21) and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane (30) in the league’s scoring charts.
Meanwhile, Cologne’s struggles continued, with the team managing just one win in their last 13 league outings. With their current position lingering third from bottom in the relegation playoff spot, Cologne faces an uphill battle to secure their Bundesliga status.
