Sargent strikes again as Bremen draw with Koln

Berlin, March 7, 2021 (AFP) - US international Josh Sargent scored for the second time in two games as Werder Bremen were held to a 1-1 draw away to Bundesliga strugglers Cologne on Sunday.

A week after firing Bremen to victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, Sargent struck again with a second-half header to give his side the lead in Cologne.

Yet a late blunder from goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka allowed Jonas Hector to rescue Cologne a valuable point in the relegation fight.

"We took a bit of time to dust ourselves off after going behind, but the point was deserved and we can live with it," Hector told Sky.

After the home side dominated the first half, a resurgent Werder wrested back control after the break and took a deserved lead on 66 minutes.

Romano Schmid's looping cross picked out Sargent in the box, and the American headed home his fourth league goal of the season.

Yet Hector levelled the scores seven minutes from time, prodding the ball into the empty net after Bremen goalkeeper Pavlenka fumbled a cross.

Florian Kohfeldt's side are now nine points clear of the bottom three, while Cologne sit two places and four points above the relegation play-off spot after ending a three-game losing streak.

Sunday's game also saw Max Meyer make his first Bundesliga start for Cologne since he joined in January after falling out of favour at former club Crystal Palace.

"I wasn't playing much at my old club so I needed a bit of time to get to know my new colleagues and improve my fitness," said Meyer, who had started the previous five games on the bench.