Funkel's Cologne leave it late to win and move to brink of promotion
Cologne players celebrate their victory after the German 2nd Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Nuernberg and 1. FC Cologne at the Max Morlock Stadium. Daniel Karmann/dpa
Cologne moved to the brink of promotion to the Bundesliga with a 2-1 comeback win at Nuremberg in Friedhelm Funkel's first game back in charge on Friday.
Janis Antiste put the hosts ahead just after the break but Florian Kainz's double, including a winner on 90 minutes, lifted the Billygoats on to 58 points.
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Elversberg and Paderborn are six points adrift with two to play and if both fail to win on Saturday at home to Eintracht Braunschweig and Magdeburg respectively, Cologne are back in the top flight at the first attempt.
Second-placed SV Hamburg can leapfrog Cologne and secure promotion on Saturday if they win at home to Ulm.
Cologne wrap up the season on May 18 at home to Kaiserslautern.
Funkel, 71, was drafted in for his third spell in charge on Monday after Cologne took a huge gamble and sacked Gerhard Struber after two games without a win - despite still being in a promotion spot.
Funkel is currently only in charge until the end of the season.
Cologne players celebrate their victory after the German 2nd Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Nuernberg and 1. FC Cologne at the Max Morlock Stadium. Daniel Karmann/dpa
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