Borussia Mönchengladbach had a particularly good day in the Bundesliga against FC Augsburg – especially striker Haris Tabakovic.
The second home win of the season and the start of the new year could hardly have been more impressive: Led by the extremely strong attacker Haris Tabakovic, Borussia Mönchengladbach deservedly won 4-0 (3-0) against FC Augsburg on Sunday after a particularly furious first half. Joe Scally (8th), Kevin Diks (20th) and Tabakovic (36th; 61st) scored the goals for Borussia.
With this success, coach Eugen Polanski’s team, which has been more efficient than it has been for a long time, moves up to 10th place in the table – and thus into the safe midfield. “That feels very good”said Polanski to the sports show. “We have sent the right signal.”
The deeply hit Augsburg team, on the other hand, remain in 15th place and are still deep in the relegation battle after this huge defeat. “This is a brutal result, even deserved at such a high level,” Augsburg coach Manuel Baum told the Sportschau.
Gladbach’s Scally scores in the second attempt
The Gladbachers took the initiative right from the start and determined the game against the primarily defensive-oriented Augsburg team. But the foals, who were particularly keen to play that afternoon, showed early signs of being able to cause problems for the compact FCA defense.
First, attacker Tabakovic stumbled upon a good counterattack opportunity after four minutes, and three minutes later Scally did much better. After a low cross from Luca Netz from the left into the Augsburg penalty area, the American converted his second attempt to take an early 1-0 lead. From then on things went smoothly for Borussia.
FCA coach Baum’s team promptly tried to act a little more courageously. But the Gladbachers coldly used the resulting space for another, momentous counterattack.
Augsburg’s Pedersen causes a hand penalty
After a cross from Florian Neuhaus, again from the left side, the ball touched Mats Pedersen’s spread arm in the FCA penalty area. Referee Harm Osmers consequently awarded a penalty, which Diks safely converted to make it 2-0.
The FCA then tried to put further pressure on Gladbach, but this did not cause any problems for the hosts. On the contrary. They repeatedly used their quick switching game and created further opportunities.
The third goal came after a standard situation. After a corner from Netz, Tabakovic got to the ball in front of the disoriented FCA goalkeeper Finn Dahmen and nodded the ball in from three meters to make it 3-0.
Augsburg cannot set any accents against Gladbach
After the break, the Augsburgers had no choice but to further increase the risk and set significantly more offensive accents. They increased their commitment and tried everything, but the Gladbach defense seemed stable and well organized.
FCA was almost never able to mess up the defense around Gladbach goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas, let alone overcome it.
And again it was a counterattack that brought the Gladbachers their next sense of success. A precise cross from Franck Honorat was converted by Tabakovic with a header from eight meters to make it 4-0. The Swiss offensive player crowned his committed performance with his second goal.
Borussia could have increased the result, but neither Tabakovic nor Rocco Reitz managed to extend their well-deserved victory any more in the final minutes.
Gladbach in Hoffenheim, Augsburg against Union
Gladbach will be guests at TSG Hoffenheim on Wednesday evening (8:30 p.m.). Augsburg welcomes Union Berlin on Thursday evening (8:30 p.m.).