Anthony Modeste (R) of Cologne vies with Marton Dardai of Berlin during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Cologne and Hertha BSC Berlin in Cologne, Germany, Aug. 15, 2021. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

BERLIN, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cologne came from behind to beat Hertha Berlin on the second-half brace from Florian Kainz while Moussa Nikhate's sole goal secured Mainz a surprising 1-0 win over Leipzig at the closing of the first round in Bundesliga on Sunday.

Cologne had the worst possible start in front of the home crowd as the club from the capital opened the scoring with the first chance of the game after Matheus Cunha squared a rebound into the path of new arrival Stevan Jovetic, who scored his first Bundesliga goal in his debut with six minutes gone.

Jovetic kept Cologne's defense busy as he forced goalkeeper Timo Horn into action with an effort on target at the half-hour mark.

As the match progressed, Cologne assumed control and flabbergasted the visitors with the equalizer through Anthony Modeste, who nodded home Jan Thielmann's pinpoint cross past Berlin custodian Alexander Schwolow in the 41st minute.

The "Billy Goats" almost turned the tides before the break, but Schwolow was on guard and defused Kainz's attempt with a diving save.

After the restart, the hosts picked up where they had left off as Ellyes Skhiri tested Schwolow with a dangerous header in the 48th minute.

Schwolow was hapless moments later, though, as Cologne completed its comeback in the 52nd minute when Kainz nodded home a deflected cross at the far post to make it 2-1 on the scoreboards.

To make things worse for Hertha, Cologne kept it going and doubled its advantage as Kainz benefitted on Benno Schmitz's build-up work to seal the deal three minutes later.

Berlin was shocked and unable to respond, whereas Cologne's defense stood firm to secure all three points in the first game of the season.

"I am glad that we have won. After we conceded the goal, we stayed tuned and responded well," Cologne head coach Steffen Baumgart said.

Elsewhere, courageous Mainz overpowered last season's runners-up Leipzig by courtesy on Nikhate's early opener. Leipzig pressed frenetically for a goal, but Mainz's defense made no mistakes and reaped a victory on home soil.

"I am very proud. My team showed what I asked for. They showed character and attitude," Mainz head coach Bo Svensson said.

Suat Serdar (R) of Berlin vies with Rafael Czichos of Cologne during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Cologne and Hertha BSC Berlin in Cologne, Germany, Aug. 15, 2021. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

Dejan Ljubicic (2nd R) of Cologne vies with Lucas Tousart (1st L) of Berlin during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Cologne and Hertha BSC Berlin in Cologne, Germany, Aug. 15, 2021. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)

Players of Berlin celebrate after scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Cologne and Hertha BSC Berlin in Cologne, Germany, Aug. 15, 2021. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)