Borussia Mönchengladbach recorded their second consecutive away win beating Greuther Fürth 4-2
Borussia Mönchengladbach recorded their second consecutive away win beating Greuther Fürth 4-2

Gladbach complete historic comeback

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Gladbach - Borussia Mönchengladbach twice had to come from behind to collect their 600th Bundesliga win as they denied nine-man Greuther Fürth their first top-flight win on home soil courtesy of a 4-2 scoreline that boasted a little bit of everything.

Mixed fortunes

Bernd Nehrig’s penalty started the rollercoaster ride which saw Gladbach equalise through Oscar Wendt after Thomas Kleine was told to take an early shower. Edgar Prib put Fürth ahead before half-time, but goals from Martin Stranzl, Patrick Herrmann and a Thorben Marx penalty clinched the win for Borussia as Milorad Pekovic saw red to rub salt in Greuther’s wounds.

Fürth’s game plan was once again focused on getting in behind their opponent’s backline on the counter and, as a result, the hosts went close to breaking the deadlock inside five minutes when Prib flashed an effort over from six yards. It was former German international Gerald Asamoah’s determined run that brought about the opener though, as he was felled inside the box by Wendt, allowing Nehrig to slot home Greuther’s first ever Bundesliga penalty-

However, less than a minute later the hosts were down to ten men as Kleine picked up a straight red for denying Patrick Herrmann a clear chance on goal. Juan Arango couldn’t fire the free-kick past Max Grün, but with emotions threatening to boil over, Gladbach equalised as Wendt met Herrmann’s cross with a powerful header at the back post. The visitors wrestled control away from Fürth with their extra man, yet fell behind on the stroke of half time when Asamoah found Prib, who controlled on his chest before putting the finishing touches on another clinical counter.

Turning the screw


Mike Büskens’ side showed no signs of letting up in the second half, but had to deal with an early setback. Havard Nordtveit swung in a corner and, when Mike Hanke flicked the ball on, Martin Stranzl headed in from close range to level the scores. The goal handed Gladbach the impetus, which they soon took advantage of to go in front for the first time, as Herrmann stooped to head home past Grün from Lukas Rupp’s inch-perfect delivery.

Greuther had been rocked by the visitors' quick-fire double, yet it was Marc-Andre ter Stegen who had to be alert to tip Stephan Fürstner’s mishit cross over the bar and prevent the hosts from equalising. The instruction to take the sting out of the game soon arrived from Borussia’s bench as the pace of proceedings became somewhat lethargic.

Comeback complete


Fürth had run themselves into the ground chasing the ball and only a last-ditch tackle from Lasse Sobiech stopped Igor de Camargo extending the lead, before Grün stuck out a leg to deny Peniel Mlapa. The hosts threw caution to the wind, but when Marx converted a late Gladbach penalty, which saw Milorad Pekovic pick up his second-bookable offence, it was game over for the newly-promoted side.

Line-ups and statistics

James Thorogood