Borussia defeated Belgian Pro League side KAS Eupen 2-0 in Thursday’s friendly at the FohlenPlatz, courtesy of two goals from Shio Fukuda.
After an opening phase devoid of any real quality, Shio Fukuda made the most of the second chance of the game to give Gladbach the lead on 14 minutes. Fukuda doubled the advantage in the 48th minute, and there would be no further goals for either side as the game finished 2-0.
TEAM NEWS
Jonas Omlin was between the sticks for the first time since his shoulder injury. In front of him, the back four consisted of Franck Honorat, Marvin Friedrich, Tony Jantschke and Lukas Ullrich. Christoph Kramer, Julian Weigl and Florian Neuhaus lined up in the centre of the park, while Patrick Herrmann, Robin Hack and Shio Fukuda formed the attack.
Aside from the players away on international duty, Gerardo Seoane was also unable to call upon Tomas Čvančara and Alassane Plea, who remain in the rehabilitation phase of their respective recoveries from injury. Seoane’s first-teamers were therefore joined by six young guns from the U23s: Tony Reitz, Phil Kemper, Ryan Naderi, Oguzcan Büyükarslan, Yassir Atty, Jamil Najjar and Kushtrim Asallari.
FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS
10’: The Foals have the first real chance of the game. Hack and Ullrich combine on the left flank, before the latter finds Weigl on the edge of the box, but the midfielder’s effort goes just over the bar.
14’: Gladbach take the lead! Honorat finds himself in space down the right wing and crosses for Fukuda, whose header just beats the Eupen goalkeeper.
15’: The visitors almost muster an immediate response as Baiye volleys a ball from the right towards Omlin’s goal, but it goes over.
25’: Herrmann has an effort from a free kick after a foul on Neuhaus, which flies just wide of the left post.
30’: Another chance for the Foals: Herrmann gets on the end of a great ball from Honorat to fire a volley at goal, but can only find the side netting.
35’: A Gladbach corner is cleared, but only as far as Hack, who is able to get the second ball into the box and to Fukuda, but Nurudeen is equal to it.
43’: Chance for Eupen. Youndje Sihon puts in a cross from the left, but Jantschke does well to put the ball behind and avert any danger.
SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS
48’: Fukuda gets Gladbach off to a flying start in the second period. Hack’s cross from the left is deflected to the Japanese teenager, whose initial attempt hits the Eupen goalkeeper, but his second try hits the back of the net.
64’: Big chance for Gladbach! Ullrich picks up the ball at the back post after a ball in from the right-hand side, but his effort is just off-target.
71’: Another chance for the Foals to extend their lead comes and goes. Naderi gets his head to Kramer’s cross, but Eupen’s keeper makes a smart save with his feet. Naderi latches onto the rebound, but can’t quite bundle the ball over the line.
89’: The visitors try to reduce the advantage as the game draws to a close. Teddy fires a shot in, but Omlin makes the save to keep his clean sheet.
STATISTICS
Borussia: Omlin – Ullrich, Friedrich, Jantschke (74’ Kemper), Honorat (62’ Najjar) – Kramer (84’ Asallari), Weigl (62’ Reitz), Neuhaus (62’ Büyükarslan) – Herrmann, Hack (62’ Naderi) – Fukuda (84’ Atty) // Bench: Sippel, Nicolas, Olschowsky
Goals: 1-0 Fukuda (14’), 2-0 Fukuda (48’)
Attendance: 400
Referee: Martin Ulankiewicz
