Relief at Gladbach: Goal scorer Tomas Cvancara (left) celebrates with provider Robin Hack.
IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

Gladbach had lost the first two home games of the season, coach Gerardo Seoane started the third with two personnel changes compared to the 2-0 defeat in Frankfurt: Plea and Sander started, Reitz and Hack moved to the bench.

The Köpenickers under coach Bo Svensson, who were unbeaten before the game and unchanged after the 2-1 home win against Hoffenheim, got off to a better start in Mönchengladbach. The Rothe-Hollerbach combination led to deals twice within a short period of time. However, Hollerbach first hit the side netting (9th) and then Nicolas hit the Gladbach goal (11th).

Gladbach is improving

Gladbach needed a good quarter of an hour to get into the party. But then structure came into play for the home side, with attacks coming primarily through Plea in the center and the right side. Sander completed the first after a cross from the right side, but his shot went a little too high (17th).

The Gladbachers stuck with it and created more chances in the middle of the first half. Probably the best was missed by Stöger, who shot just over the goal after a nice interplay between Plea and Netz (26′). Because Ngoumou (35th) and Plea (42nd) also missed, the score was 0-0 at the break – quite flattering for Union, as the guests remained pale after the initial phase.

Hardly any chances – then Cvancaras gets a header

The picture changed somewhat in the second half: As at the beginning of the game, Union got back into the game better after the break. However, we didn’t get chances – and that was the difference from the first half. However, the guests were not alone with this flaw: Gladbach also hardly found any ways forward.

Instead, the second half was characterized by interruptions: Itakura and Ngoumou on Gladbach’s side as well as Diogo Leite and Hollerbach on Union’s side had to be dealt with, substitutions did the rest and so for a long time there was hardly any flow of the game and no danger of scoring. Only in the final phase did both teams take a little more risk. It wasn’t worth it for Union: Vertessen only hit the outside post (86th) – and in stoppage time, Köpenick even conceded a late goal: Cvancara headed Hack’s cross (90th + 6th).

Union suffers its first defeat of the season

The substitute striker gave his colors their first home win since February of this year with his late goal – and Union their first defeat of the season. Borussia will continue their game against FC Augsburg on Friday evening (8.30 p.m.). Union Berlin welcomes Borussia Dortmund the next day (3:30 p.m.).