Match Report: Borussia Mönchengladbach (H)

Pre-match

Ahh, the sweet taste of a Friday night game at the Alte Försterei.

Everyone's up for it on a Friday night, and the visit of Borussia Mönchengladbach was no different.

The stadium gleamed under the lights, the stands packing out early as we took up a space in the lower rungs of the Gegengerade.

We were a big group tonight, parents and plus ones adding to our normal contingent scattered across Sektor 3.

I've noticed a trend that whenever somebody's parents turn up, it's a banger of a game, and we were not to be disappointed.

After a pretty meek loss at Leverkusen, we were in mediocre form, but Gladbach have had a truly awful start to the season, winless and binning off their manager already.

For us, Kemlein came in for Schäfer after a strong cameo at Leverkusen, while Ansah was also back in the starting lineup along with Skarke, in for Burke.

The pre-match music is always an eclectic delight, capped for me tonight by everyone under 50 singing along to Eduard Khil's seminal 1976 version of "Я очень рад, ведь я, наконец, возвращаюсь домой", which apparently translates aptly to "I Am Very Glad, As I Am Finally Returning Back Home". Ever a true sentiment when we come home to the AdAF.

The song is now firmly lodged in my head, and hopefully in yours too.

We fully belted out the usual Union anthems ahead of kickoff, the stadium pouring smoke, noise and expectant energy into the crisp evening.

A big flashing tifo rolled across the Waldseite at kickoff.

First Half

Gladbach kicked off with a shot, trying to lob Rønnow from the halfway line with the first kick of the game.

It floated harmlessly over. This was our first indication that they might be a bit crap.

The suspicion was confirmed with just a couple of minutes on the clock, Köhn denied by a fingertip from the keeper, but the resulting corner met by a towering Doekhi leap which he buried into the top corner!

A welcome lead after just two minutes sent all manner of liquids into the Köpenick sky.

Gladbach went right down the other end and almost equalised, the striker screwing wide under pressure from Querfeld after being played through on the counter.

But Union were dominant in the opening stages.

Kemlein particularly showed why he should be a regular starter, both a defensive shield and a creator.

There were two or three occasions in the first 10 minutes where Gladbach tried to clear lines and he was always there to mop it up, put his foot on the ball and get us going again. We know his technique is great but his calmness is what we have been sorely lacking.

The Waldseite was giddy after the early goal and it seeped into the team, Gladbach rocking and barely clinging on.

Anything in the air caused panic, Ilic was on one, bullying the defence, while Ansah was his usual blend of skill, tenacity and guile playing in a deeper 10 position.

Skarke was also giving them problems with his Very Fast Running.

Leite decided that defending was boring and played in attacking midfield for a bit, taking a pass from Ansah and running straight through the lines to release Skarke who dragged wide.

Gladbach started waking up a bit as the half ticked on, Union's early momentum fading a little. A very neat flick on the edge of the box almost played them in, but we got bodies in the way to halt the attack.

While Gladbach came to counter, it was Union who nearly extended the lead with a goal on the break. A corner was cleared long and high, and Skarke immediately got the engines running to reel in the defender who had a good 10 yard headstart.

Skarke did superbly to get there first and outmuscle the centre back, and with the keeper stranded after joining the race, Skarke lobbed an outrageous half volley from about 40 yards just wide. What a goal it would have been.

But we didn't have to wait long for a second. Gladbach failed to clear their lines yet again, Ansah picking up just outside the D and driving into the box.

His shot across the keeper came agonisingly off the inside of the post, but that man Doekhi was there again to turn in the rebound, apparently his first goal for us that didn't involve his head.

I left to visit the facilities, safe in the knowledge that we had a comfortable lead and were playing well.

Gladbach scored immediately, of course.

I returned to a much tenser scene, the opposition suddenly on top.

Trimmel got into some strong debate with an opponent and then went down holding his hamstring, he had to be replaced by Haberer.

A bit of pinball from a corner led to a smart shot on the turn, but Freddie snaffled it and held onto the ball.

To be honest we were glad when half time came, everything a bit nervy all of a sudden after a rampant start.

Still, a good half and lots to enjoy, the atmosphere fantastic from all sides, the sold out travelling end colourful and loud as Gladbach always are.

Second Half

Gladbach came out sensing an opportunity and we were again on the back foot, although not particularly threatened.

I'm not quite sure what is wrong with their team, but there wasn't a lot of fight from Gladbach even when they looked like getting back into it.

There was one panic moment when a cross came in which Rønnow couldn't get at, the ball bouncing kindly for Tabakovic who hooked it just over the bar with his back to goal.

At the other end, Skarke again beat his man for pace and did a couple of neat stepovers, but his drilled low shot didn't have the juice to beat the keeper.

We all thought Gladbach had equalised when a ball was again recycled to Tabakovic, Union not clearing properly this time. He gleefully curled a low effort past a helpless Rønnow, but not for the first time the flag was up right away for offside, an always-worrying VAR check confirming the decision.

Gladbach started to look tired and we looked a lot more comfortable. Ilic fluffed a presentable shot with a mighty swipe into the cool night air, but nobody held it against him as he'd run himself into the ground yet again.

Köhn was really shining on the left, he didn't have much to do at the back but was a constant outlet.

He played in so many tasty crosses and corners after Trimmel went off that we were discussing whether he should trademark Derrick Köhn's Delicious Balls ™️ as a brand name.

Sadly nothing came of said balls but Doekhi was once more causing panic with flicked headers and runs into corners, just not able to get an unlikely hat trick.

Kemlein again was imperious in the middle, keeping the ball under pressure from multiple players before bursting through them all to set up an attack.

Khedira had also been quietly effective, but he put his stamp on the game as we ticked past 80 minutes.

Kral, on for Ansah and playing pretty much the same position, played a big role in settling the team down after he came on.

His versatility probably works against him, but he was industrious and made some good passes after coming on.

He won us a free kick inside the Gladbach half. Fellow sub Jeong curled it in, Gladbach followed their strategy of relentlessly fucking up the clearance, and the ball looped straight to Khedira in the edge of the box.

With unexpected panache, he took it first time and simply passed his volley low into the corner. The Alte Försterei exploded in delight as I rued choosing that exact moment to be taking possession of a fresh beer.

Big thanks to our resident film star who threw himself onto the people next to us in order to protect said beer, an act of selfless heroism.

We closed out the game comfortably after that, raucous noise serenading the players who had put in a fine effort all round.

Gladbach were absolute pants but we saw them off quite easily in the end, looking dangerous in a lot of different situations.

The after game beers tasted particularly sweet as we regrouped by the Abseitsfalle, discussing everything from the game to the horror of Seattle's Gum Wall.

We scuttled to the S Bahn perhaps a touch worse for wear, but having enjoyed a fantastic night all round.

Good football, good people, good times.

No better way to spend a Friday night.

Eisern!

--

By @MarkJB on Bluesky