Hertha BSC Berlin 1 - 2 Monchengladbach : Gladbach back up to third

Posted Monday, May 04, 2015 by PA

Borussia Monchengladbach moved back up to third in the Bundesliga thanks to a 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin on Sunday.

Max Kruse gave the Foals the lead in the 11th minute, but Valentin Stocker replied immediately for the hosts.

An 85th-minute winner from Ibrahima Traore took Gladbach back above Bayer Leverkusen into a position which would take them into the Champions League group stage next season, giving them a two-point advantage going into their crucial clash with Leverkusen next weekend.

Kruse was unfortunate to see the offside flag raised after he took a long ball down well and tucked the ball past Thomas Kraft, but his disappointment did not last for long.

Hertha failed to clear their lines and Raffael found himself with room to push on, and his square ball was turned in first time by Kruse with nothing preventing him from celebrating this time.

Those celebrations were cut short as Hertha levelled just a minute later.

Salomon Kalou's header came back off the crossbar and Stocker was in the right place to nod in the rebound.

Granit Xhaka's curling effort was turned over the crossbar expertly by Kraft, but when the Swiss midfielder was provided with a much easier chance, he placed his shot wide with only Kraft to beat.

Patrick Herrmann was not having his best of days for Gladbach and Favre decided to replace him with Traore in what proved to be an inspired substitution.

The former Stuttgart full-back curled in the winner from the edge of the penalty area for his first goal of the season which could hardly have been better timed, in terms of its importance.