Austria international Philipp Hosiner scored his first goal for Cologne just six months after undergoing surgery to remove a kidney tumour.
Hosiner, 26, had been set to sign for the club in January, but the move was put on hold when doctors carrying out his medical found the tumour in his left kidney.
Bravo @HosinerP ! Der Fußball schreibt mitunter die schönsten Geschichten! Freu mich sehr für Dich!Ganz stark #comeback #debut #matchwinner
- Marc Janko (@JankoMarc) August 29, 2015
The forward, who underwent surgery in mid-February, joined Cologne on loan from Rennes in the summer -- and on Saturday he came off the bench to convert his first chance in his first league match for the Billy Goats.
Anthony Modeste added another as Cologne made it a perfect day for Hosiner by securing a 2-1 win over Hamburg at the Mungersdorfer Stadion.
"I am just thankful that I got the chance to play in Bundesliga after this story," Hosiner told reporters after the match. "It was not a given that the club would put trust in me once again."
Former Sydney FC star Marc Janko, a fellow Austrian, tweeted his congratulations, writing: "Bravo, Philipp Hosiner! Football sometimes writes the most beautiful stories. I am delighted for you! Great stuff!"
