Union Berlin suffered a first season defeat on Saturday but retained the Bundesliga lead because Borussia Dortmund also lost a week ahead of their prestigious duel with Bayern Munich.
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Dortmund fell 3-2 in Cologne after leading 1-0 from Julian Brandt. The hosts hit back within three minutes after the break from Florian Kainz and former Dortmund player Steffen Tigges, Dejan Ljubicic got their third, and Tom Rothe a late second for Dortmund.
Union lost 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt but are still top, on goal difference over Freiburg who won 2-1 against Mainz.
Bayern and Dortmund are two points back ahead of their October 8 showdown in Dortmund. Ten-time reigning champions Bayern ended a mini crisis 4-0 against lowly Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.
In Cologne, Dortmund captain Jude Bellingham set up Brandt nicely between two defenders to slot home the opening goal in the 31st minute.
But the hosts reversed matters when Kainz levelled in the 53rd and his corner three minutes later was headed home by Tigges at the near post.
"We played a good first half with many chances. We should have scored a second. We came into the second half and defended poorly as they got three goals in quick succession," Brandt told Sky TV.
Union's unbeaten start into the season ended in Frankfurt where Mario Gotze opened the scoring in the 12th and Jesper Lindstrom added a superb second in the 42nd, winning the ball in Union's half and beating two defenders before slotting home at the near post.
The visitors were unable to come back even though Frankfurt's Kolo Muani Randal was sent off for a second bookable offence mid-way through the second half.
Australian Associated Press
