Cologne crisis continues with 7th loss in 8 Bundesliga games

STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Cologne’s seemingly cursed start to the Bundesliga continued Friday when video assistance denied the side a late penalty and then Stuttgart scored in the fourth minute of injury time for a 2-1 win.

Dominique Heintz thought he’d earned at least a point for Cologne, and it could have been more when referee Benjamin Cortus awarded a penalty after Cologne substitute Sehrou Guirassy fell in a challenge with Dennis Aogo.

But Cortus reversed the decision in injury time after lengthy video consultation, then Chadrac Akolo claimed the late winner at the other end with a deflected shot.

“The referee made a clear decision and it isn’t a clear wrong decision,” said Cologne sporting director Joerg Schmadtke, whose side remains bottom with just one point from eight games.

Cologne made a good start and should have taken the lead through Yuya Osako, who had a number of chances early on.

Stuttgart improved, however, and duly scored through Anastasios Donis when Simon Terodde sent him through before the break.

The equalizer came from an unlikely source with a quarter-hour remaining when Heintz let fly with a brilliant strike inside the top left corner.

It was the first goal Stuttgart had conceded at home this season, but it only set up the late drama to come.

“It wasn’t a good feeling for either team to wait for minutes on the pitch without knowing what would happen,” Terodde said of the video consultation. “In the end we were the luckier team.”