Berlin beat Cologne 1-0 in German Bundesliga

Hertha Berlin wrapped up their first win in 2016 thanks to Vedad Ibisevic's first-half winner against Cologne, at opener of the 23rd round in Bundesliga on Friday.

After one loss and four draws in the last games Berlin snatched a 1-0 victory on the road against Cologne. Berlin dominated the first half and scored the opener through Vedad Ibisevic. The hosts turned up in the second half but were unable to restore parity.

Berlin took the reins from the kick-off while Cologne defended deep in their territory. Nevertheless, the hosts created the first chance through Mergim Mavraj, who missed the target in the third minute.

The visitors worked out their first chances with 19 minutes into the game when Salomon Kalou pulled wide from 13 meters before Genki Haraguchi forced Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn to tip the ball over the bar moments later.

Despite Cologne's defensive strategy, they remained dangerous as Filip Mladenovic tested Rune Jarstein from sharp angle following Leonardo Bittencourt's build up play in the 34th minute.

Just when 48,900 spectators at the Rhein-Energie Stadium settled for a goalless first half, Vedad Ibisevic broke the deadlock at the 43rd minute. The striker completed a combination via Salomon Kalou to slot home into the far post corner.

After the restart, Cologne tried hard to level the scores but the hosts lacked in ideas to overcome Berlin's well-positioned defence. On top of that, Cologne were unlucky as referee Tobias Stieler oversaw a handball by Berlin's Per Skjelbred inside the box in the 73rd minute.

However, the hosts pressed frenetically and had another two promising opportunities to restore parity but Marcel Risse pulled over the bar from 18 meters before Anthony Modeste rattled the right post in the 83rd minute.

With the result, Berlin sealed their first three points in 2016 to jump on the 3rd place for the nnow while Cologne remain on the ninth place.

The following fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: Wolfsburg encounter front-runners Bayern Munich, Hamburg see newly promoted Ingolstadt, Stuttgart face last placed Hannover and Bremen host newly promoted Darmstadt. Endit