Former Champions League winners Borussia Dortmund have defeated struggling Cologne 2-1 away from home in the pouring rain in Friday night's Bundesliga clash.

The winner came through Nuri Sahin in the 91st minute after the midfielder found the back of the net from close range after a goalmouth scramble.

Dortmund seized momentum from the outset and should have taken the lead on 17 minutes when a cross from Sahin found the head of striker Lucas Barrios, but the Paraguayan put the ball over with the goal at his mercy.

The black and yellow from Dortmund didn't have to wait much longer, however, when three minutes later Japan international Shinji Kagawa played the ball into the Cologne box where Barrios headed it onto the knee of Pole Jakub Blaszczykowski, nicknamed Kuba, from which it bounced over the goal line.

The goal sparked Cologne into action, but Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller denied attempts from Portuguese midfielder Petit and German international Lukas Podolski.

Cologne were finally rewarded for their efforts when they tied the match up with eight minutes remaining after a poor Dortmund clearance fell to Podolski on the edge of the area. Weidenfeller had no chance against his left-footed shot, which clocked at 110 kilometers per hour.

But just as Cologne thought they had secured a much-needed point, Dortmund struck back with the late winner through Sahin.

The win moves Dortmund to equal top of the Bundesliga, along with Mainz, on 21 points, while Cologne languish in 16th place and risk dropping another position if either Schalke or Stuttgart come away with all three points in their Saturday game against each other.

Author: Darren Mara (AFP/dpa)
Editor: John Kluempers