the Gladbach twelve

By: otto | February 7th, 2009

To summarize Borussia’s 1-1 draw to Hoffenheim, it is best described as “bitter” with tough tackling and Borussia-Park singing out encouragement for their hero’s. There are many highlights and even difficult spots but make no mistake the balance of Rückrunde will be met with a determined and unified Borussia, which of-course includes the “twelfth man.”

The match began at a well controlled pace with good defensive discipline. Borussia’s first good chance came mid-point of the opening half when Boubacar Sanogo’s volley from outside the six yard box went off course. Karim Matmour nearly gave Borussia the lead past the half hour, before the Hoffenheim goalkeeper made a lunging save. However just before the break Tomáš Galásek’s pass to Alexander Baumjohann resulted in a powerful drive from twenty-five metres giving Borussia the 1-0 lead.

After the break, Hoffenheim started to slowly build in confidence and began breaking down Gladbach’s 3-3-4 formation. After a close call from Bosnian Sejad Salihović’s drive from twenty-metres, Tomáš Galásek had a penalty call on him with twenty minutes left overturned and Chinedu Obasi carded for simulation. Still the equalizing goal could not be found and after Demba Ba’s acrobatic strike hit the cross bar with twelve minutes remaining it looked like Borussia would walk away with three points. However Wellington who had entered for Austrian international Andreas Ibertsberger with four minutes left, was able to head the ball-in as regulation time ran out, albeit from what clearly was an offside position. Following the goal Roberto Colautti came in for Karim Matmour and Borussia stormed forward. Quick hitting efforts by Oliver Neuville and Colautti were stopped and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.