Koln have now won just once in 15 home head-to-heads against Stuttgart after they were pegged back to a 2-1 defeat in the Bundesliga.
A fast start from the hosts saw them take the lead inside just four minutes as Ragnar Ache fed through Jakub Kaminski, who coolly slotted past Alexander Nubel.
Ache then almost scored himself shortly after, but his effort was cleared off the line. However, Stuttgart grew into the first half, as Tiago Tomas spectacular overhead kick had to be tipped over by Marvin Schwabe.
Before the half-hour mark, the visitors won a penalty as Ermedin Demirovic was fouled by Schwabe, and he stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and equalise. The half’s final chance fell to Cologne, with Sebastian Sebulonsen striking just wide.
Both teams tested their respective opposition goalkeepers midway through the second half, as Demirovic’s volley at the back post was parried away by Schwabe, before Cologne substitute Saïd El Mala’s close-range shot was stopped by Nubel.
He brushed the crossbar with another strike in the latter stages, as the score remained level. El Mala was trying his best to single-handedly win the game for Die Geißböcke, as another of his strikes was tipped over by Nubel.
Unfortunately, Cologne would be cruelly punished, as Josha Vagnoman was threaded through at an acute angle, and he finished brilliantly to steal the points.
As a result, Stuttgart leapfrog their opponents into the European places, recording their first away league points of the season after two previous defeats.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Josha Vagnoman (VfB Stuttgart)
