Gladbach through to second round of the Pokal after 9-1 win
Borussia have got the new season off to a perfect start with a dominant 9-1 victory against fifth-tier opponents SV Oberachern.
The Foals couldn’t have started better by going into the lead early with their first shot of the game. Marcus Thuram put the finishing touch on a lovely passing move involving Alassane Plea and Lars Stindl (3’) to open the scoring, and while the hosts tried to put pressure on Gladbach, they weren’t able to create any serious goalscoring chances. Most of the action was at one end of the field where Borussia repeatedly showed their offensive threat, and before half-time managed to find five more goals – as Thuram completed his hat-trick (22’, 36’), Jonas Hofmann added two more (37’, 45+3’), and Ramy Bensebaini getting in on the action (45’).
The visitors continued to attack as soon as the second half got underway, as skipper Lars Stindl quickly made it 7-0 (47’), and Joe Scally got on the scoresheet just before the hour mark (59’). However, the hosts were quickly able to find their consolation goal as Oberachern forward Nico Huber made it 7-1 (61’). A few changes by Daniel Farke didn’t stop the chances from coming in the last half hour, though, and Florian Neuhaus’ effort to bring the scoreline to 9-1 was the final goal of the game (78’).
The second round of the DFB-Pokal will take place on 18th and 19th October, with the draw to be held on 4th September.
TEAM NEWS
Daniel Farke was without the services of goalkeepers Yann Sommer, who suffered a thigh issue, and Tobias Sippel, who had a COVID case within his personal circle. Moritz Nicolas therefore made his first-team debut. In front of him was a back four of Joe Scally, Ko Ikatura, Nico Elvedi and Ramy Bensebaini, while Christoph Kramer, Florian Neuhaus and Jonas Hofmann started in midfield. Alassane Plea, Marcus Thuram and Lars Stindl made up the front three.
As well as the two goalkeepers, Marvin Friedrich (hamstring), Hannes Wolf (muscle strain in thigh), Jordan Beyer and Manu Koné (lack of match fitness) were unavailable for selection. Conor Noß was used as a substitute in the U23’s Regionalliga West match against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on Sunday.
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS
3’: Dream start for the Foals! Plea plays the ball nicely into the final third, Stindl knocks it on perfectly to Thuram in space, who takes a moment before firing into the bottom right corner. 1-0 to Gladbach.
7’: Hofmann plays it nicely into Neuhaus, but his volley can’t find the target.
9’: Oberachern put together a decent attack and Awell takes it on from distance. His effort, however is wide.
10’: Nearly 2-0! Hoffman is played freely into the penalty area, who passes the ball nicely to Thuram, whose right-footed shot is the wrong side of the left goalpost.
18’: Well defended! Oberachern are able to latch onto a loose pass, sending Huber in, but Elvedi is alert to the situation and intervenes.
22’: Gladbach double their advantage! Hofmann gets possession on the right hand side, plays a pinpoint ball in the middle to Thuram, who opens up the angle and places it between goalkeeper Redl’s legs. 2-0 to Gladbach.
26’: Almost Gladbach’s third, but Stindl sends the ball about 10 metres above the bar after a good combination.
36’: Thuram’s hat-trick! Stindl passes it right into the path of the Frenchman, SVO keeper Redl comes out and is rounded, with Thuram walking it into the empty net. 3-0 to Gladbach.
37’: Borussia get the ball right back from kick-off, and again it’s Stindl who sets it up – but this time Jonas Hofmann fires in. 4-0 to Gladbach.
45’: Bensebaini makes it five! The left-back gets onto the end of a cross from Hofmann in the middle of the box, and strikes it perfectly into the back of the net. 5-0 to Gladbach.
45+3’: Hofmann has a brace now! Plea and Hofmann lead a counter attack and are able to unravel the SVO defence with a quick one-two, with the latter finishing easily. 6-0 to Gladbach.
SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS:
47’: Gladbach are right back at it from the restart! Redl can only parry Plea’s first effort from outside the box, allowing skipper Stindl, already with three assists, to finally get a goal of his own. 7-0 to Gladbach.
59’: Scally strikes now! The American youngster gets the ball from Plea, running in behind on the right, and converts his opportunity. 8-0 to Gladbach.
61’: Oberachern have their consolation. A long ball from the right drops for Huber in behind, who gets a good touch and is able to nudge home into the far corner. 8-1.
78’: Neuhaus makes it 9-1! This time it’s Thuram setting it up, with Neuhaus receiving the ball in the area and moving it onto his right foot nicely – before finding the right corner with precision. 9-1 to Gladbach.
82’: Thuram almost has a fourth, but Redl is able to stop his curving effort.
STATISTICS:
Oberachern: Redl; Fritz, Zwick (72’ Dietrich), Leberer, Ludwig, Asam; Durmus (64’ Barnick), Gueddin, Güzelcoban (83’ Knobelspies), Awell (64. Ambri); Huber (83’ Stefotic)
Borussia: Nicolas; Scally (75’ Lainer), Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini (75’ Netz) – Neuhaus, Kramer; Plea (82’ Borges Sanches), Stindl (60’ Herrmann), Hofmann (75’ Reitz); Thuram
Goals: 0-1 Thuram (3’), 0-2 Thuram (22’), 0-3 Thuram (36’), 0-4 Hofmann (37’), 0-5 Bensebaini (45’), 0-6 Hofmann (45+3’), 0-7 Stindl (47’), 0-8 Scally (59’), 1-8 Huber (61’), 1-9 Neuhaus (78’)
Attendance: 13,000
Cards: -
Referee: Nicolas Winter (Hagenbach)
