BERLIN (AP) — American forward Jordan Pefok had a penalty saved but Union Berlin held on to win 1-0 at previously unbeaten Cologne in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
An own-goal from Cologne defender Timo Hübers in the third minute was enough for the capital club to take top spot in the league ahead of Freiburg’s game with Borussia Mönchengladbach later.
Union has 14 points after six rounds, two more than 10-time defending champion Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg.
Hübers was trying to cut out Sheraldo Becker’s cross when he inadvertently diverted the ball inside goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe’s near post.
Pefok was back in Union’s starting lineup after missing two games with a muscle injury. He had a chance to add to his two league goals so far when Cologne’s Luca Kilian was penalized for handball through VAR. But Pefok shot down the middle and saw Schwäbe save his effort in the 10th minute.
Becker had another Union goal ruled out for offside shortly afterward, but it didn’t matter as the visitors played with discipline to see out their fourth win.
Kilian was sent off in the 81st with his second yellow card as Cologne slumped to its first loss.
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