Modeste strikes again as Koln see off Hertha Berlin

Berlin, Jan 9, 2022 (AFP) - French forward Anthony Modeste claimed his fourth goal in three Bundesliga games as Koln climbed the table with a 3-1 win at Hertha Berlin on Sunday.

Modeste headed home a cross from fellow striker Mark Uth at Berlin's Olympic Stadium to give Koln an early lead.

Slovakian midfielder Ondrej Duda then doubled Koln's lead four minutes later when he smashed home from the edge of the area.

Hertha midfielder Vladimir Darida clawed a goal back by drilling in a free-kick at the start of the second half.

Koln substitute Jan Thielmann sealed victory in added time by winning the ball off Darida, rounding Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow and firing into the empty net.

Modeste, a cult hero with Koln fans, has scored 12 goals in 18 league games this season, putting him fourth on the Bundesliga goalscoring charts, behind only Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski, Bayer Leverkusen's Patrik Schick and Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

The win lifted Koln to sixth in the table, while Hertha drop to 12th, just three points above the relegation play-off place.

With nine members of their squad sidelined by Covid, league leaders Bayern lost 2-1 at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday.

Their lead was cut to six points on Saturday when second-placed Dortmund staged a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down with 20 minutes to play, winning 3-2 at Eintracht Frankfurt.