BERLIN, May. 27 -- Hoffenheim snapped their winless run of seven games and returned to winning ways after beating newly promoted Cologne 3-1 by courtesy of Christoph Baumgartner's brace in the 28th round of Bundesliga on Wednesday.
The "TSG" ensured a quick start on home soil and needed only 11 minutes to mark the opener as Jacob Bruun Larsen's build-up work and cross into the box allowed Baumgartner to nutmeg Cologne goalie Timo Horn from ten meters.
To make things worse, Cologne had to continue with ten-men as Sebastiaan Bornauw's initial yellow card for a foul play was changed into a red card after consultation with the video assistant referee in the 26th minute.
Cologne were shocked and failed to pose a threat whereas Hoffenheim thought they had doubled their advantage in superior number but for all that the Baumgartner's goal was ruled offside before the break.
Hoffenheim grabbed a perfect restart as Baumgartner nodded home his second goal of the night following Robert Skov's pinpoint cross to the far post.
Things went from bad to worse for Cologne as Baumgartner teed up for Steven Zuber, who curled the ball into the far post bottom corner only two minutes later.
It was a short-lived joy for the hosts as they also had to continue the game with ten men after Benjamin Hubner saw his second yellow card in the 51st minute.
The dismissal gave Cologne a boost as they reduced the arrears against the run of the play when Florian Kainz made the most of Jhon Cordoba's through ball from the edge of the box at the hour mark.
Cologne had even the golden chance to get back with a goal within but Hoffenheim custodian Oliver Baumann defused Mark Uth's hand ball penalty in the 77th minute.
The victory lift Hoffenheim to the seventh place meanwhile newly promoted Cologne slipped to the 11th position of the table.
Elsewhere, Schalke remain winless in their tenth consecutive match as Fortuna Dusseldorf came from behind to secure all three points on home soil.
Augsburg and bottom side Paderborn played out a goalless stalemate while ten-men Union Berlin eked out a 1-1 draw against Mainz.