Michael Bradley's brace moved Borussia Moenchengladbach within two goals of safety after an impressive Rhine Derby victory at Cologne.
Bradley opened the scoring after 25 minutes and Karim Matmour made it 2-0 in the 44th. Miso Brecko cut the deficit in half in the 64th minute but Rob Friend gave Gladbach a 3-1 lead just three minutes later.
Breck struck again in the 82nd but Bradley's penalty with three minutes to play decided the game, which was marred by riots outside the grounds beforehand.
Gladbach's second straight win moves them level on points with Bochum but still in the drop zone on goal difference.
Marko Marin set up Gladbach's first goal in the 25th minute. The youngster found space on the left side and crossed into the box where Bradley finished from three yards.
Gladbach doubled the lead a minute before the break. Alexander Baumjohann's pass went to Matmour, who rounded Cologne goalkeeper Fayrd Mondragon and slotted into the empty net.
Cologne put the ball in the net nine minutes after the re-start as Milivoje Novakovic pounced on Kevin Pezzoni's shot off the right post but was ruled off-side.
Cologne pulled a goal back 10 minutes later with more than a hint of good fortune.
Brecko's long shot deflected off a defender and against the left-hand post to find the net.
But the visitors restored their two-goal lead in the 67th minute with a quick break as Baumjohann's through ball found Paul Stalteri who cross for Friend to volley home.
Brecko made it 3-2 with eight minutes to play with a 16-yard blast past Logan Bailly and into the far-left corner.
But Gladbach secured the victory with a penalty three minutes from time.
Gal Alberman was felled in the area by Pezzoni, and Bradley stepped up to beyond the despairing Mondragon, who got a touch but not enough on the ball.
Despite the defeat, Cologne remain safe in 11th place.
