Anthony Ujah had put the hosts a goal up and into the ascendency, although Nikola Djurdjic's goal levelled the game for Augsburg. It looked like it would end all square, but a deflected Alexander Esswein volley earned an unlikely win.
After last week's drubbing in the Rhein derby, Peter Stöger reverted back to his usual 4-2-3-1 formation. The five-back was unusually lax and Leverkusen were able to run riot; Dominic Maroh (dropped) and Matthias Lehmann (suspended) were replaced by Yannick Gerhardt and the returning Marcel Risse, who could prove to be the catalyst for a return to form before the Hinrunde ends.
Markus Weinzierl and Augsburg had seemingly reached their peak with an eighth placed finish last term, but both seem to be keen to surprise yet more people this season. Currently sitting in the final Champions League place, the beginning to the 2014-15 campaign has been beyond their wildest dreams. He made just one change for the trip to Köln, as Domink Kohr came in for Markus Feulner.
The hosts had a good, early chance to go in front, after some inventive play from Anthony Ujah to set up Dusan Svento; although the former RB Salzburg man could only fire over on the angle. The Nigerian forward was proving a handful in the opening minutes and he had his reward thanks to some lackadaisical marking. Pawel Olkowski wasn't closed down after he picked the ball up in space, the Pole took his time and drove a pin-point pass into the chest of Ujah. He provided the touch and finish the pass deserved, as Ujah chested into space before placing the ball past Alex Manninger for his fifth goal of the season.
Augsburg were handed an excellent chance to equalise after Tobias Wener was left to run costless at the back post, but the usually reliable winger couldn't capitalise on Paul Verhaegh's cross. Olkowski saw his shot cleared off the line by Daniel Baier, just moments after the defensive midfielder had forced Timo Horn into a routine save at the other end. Even without too many chances, the game was fast, flowing and played at an almighty pace. Jonas Hector was then denied by a strong stop by Manninger, while Kevin Vogt spurned a good chance wide; there was no let up in frightening pace of the game.
Though, just like the weekend previous, Augsburg would fight their way back into the game. Halil Altintop spread the ball wide for Verhaegh to run on to, before the Dutchman's shot was deflected towards Timo Horn by Kevin Wimmer. The Köln stopper managed to get a hand to the ball, but he couldn't push it to safety and Nikola Djurdjic was on hand to bundle the ball into the open net. It was his first goal since moving to Augsburg and, as well as the confidence boost, it crucially brought the visitors level.
Despite the early goal, neither side were able to kick-on and the second-half merely meandered on without major incident. Megrim Mavraj headed onto the roof of Manninger's net, although Werner was a constant threat at the other end. Though, with just one minute of normal time remaining, substitute Alexander Esswein volleyed home the winner. It may have taken a deflection, but it was a clean strike and the ball zipped past a helpless Horn. Stöger was shocked, with a draw being a reasonable result, but the visitors had snatched the three points at the death.
Things don't get any easier for Köln, when they head to Gelsenkirchen to face Schalke next weekend. The Billy Goats remain in twelfth, but are just two points above the relegation zone, with fans in disbelief having let slip their lead. The win jumps Augsburg into third, ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, and their amazing season shows no sign of stopping. The Bavrians welcome Bayern to the SGL Arena for a local derby, with Augsburg winning the last game between the sides, who knows what they could do in this vein of form?