Super sub Marcus Thuram hits brace to give Borussia Mönchengladbach Rhine derby glory over Fortuna Düsseldorf
Borussia Mönchengladbach came from behind to take Rhine derby spoils with a 2-1 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf on Sunday, courtesy of substitute Marcus Thuram’s brace and despite the best efforts of Zack Steffen.
Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Goals: 0-1 Adams (6’), 1-1 Thuram (74'), 2-1 Thuram (87')
The visitors took no time to settle and were ahead after just six minutes. Goal-line technology confirmed Kasim Adams’ header had crossed the line as the 24-year-old opened his Bundesliga account in his first start for the club following his move from Hoffenheim this summer. Gladbach would have been level five minutes later but for a magnificent double save from USA international Steffen who twice denied Breel Embolo in quick succession. Fittingly for a Rhine derby between two sides separated by just 20 miles, neither was willing to relent their share of the frenetic, end-to-end tempo as Düsseldorf took a slender lead into the break.
The game's rapidity immediately continued at its resumption and Gladbach thought they were level, only to be once again denied by the superb Steffen, who this time was at his best to deny Patrick Herrmann, springing off his line to block the Foals' frontman when the German looked destined to equalise. It looked like it wasn't to be Gladbach's day until second half substitute Thuram tucked home Stefan Lainer's cross for his first Gladbach goal with quarter of an hour to play. And with just three minutes remaining, Thuram had his second, volleying past Steffen from close range after a goalmouth scramble that saw Gladbach denied by the American once more and then strike the bar before the French forward sealed a dramatic victory.
Match stats
- Gladbach have now won nine of their last 10 Bundesliga home games against regional rivals Düsseldorf, drawing the other.
- Thuram's goals mean Gladbach substitutes have scored three times this season, which is the most in the league.
- Düsseldorf’s American No.1 Steffen has made a league-best 35 saves, 16 more than Union Berlin's Rafal Gikiewicz, who has the next best record.
- Adams' goal came on his 15th Bundesliga appearance, having featured 13 times for Hoffenheim last year and making his Fortuna debut in the 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg last time out.
- This was Gladbach's first victory at home since 26 January when they beat Augsburg 2-0. It ends a 10-match winless run at Borussia-Park after they'd win each of the previous 11.
Line-ups
Gladbach: Sommer (c) – Lainer, Ginter, Jantschke (Elvedi 52'), Wendt – Neuhaus, Benes, Zakaria – Herrmann (Raffael 80'), Plea (Thuram 67'), Embolo
Unused subs: Sippel, Kramer, Beyer, Bensebaini
Out: Bennetts (thigh), Hofmann (knee), Johnson (back), Stindl (broken shin), Strobl (knee)
Coach: Marco Rose
Düsseldorf: Steffen – Hoffmann, Ayhan, Adams – Zimmermann, Baker (Thommy 58'), Bodzek (c), Gießelmann - Karaman, Kownacki (Hennings 79'), Zimmer (Pledl 67')
Unused subs: Kastenmeier, Ofori, Contento, Ampomah, Bormuth, Tekpetey
Out: Barkok (shoulder), Morales (groin), Rensing (shoulder), Sobottka (groin), Stöger (cruciate ligament), Suttner (muscular), Wolf (inner ear)
Coach: Friedhelm Funkel
Watch: Thuram: "Most important is the derby win"
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