Breel Embolo shines when Rhineland-Derby becomes the first Bundesliga game to be played behind closed doors
Breel Embolo celebrates for empty stands as Borussia Monchengaldbach’s Rheinland derby wins from Cologne becomes the first Bundesliga game to be played behind closed doors due to corona virus
- The result places the home team just six points from the Bundesliga top
- Breel Embolo gave Gladbach a first half lead with a brilliant curling effort
- Embolo then became a provider when his cross was put into his own net by Jorge Mere
- Mark Uth’s consolation after 80 minutes made for a nervous finish for Gladbach
- It was the first Bundesliga game to be played behind closed doors due to the corona virus
Breel Embolo was the key figure as Borussia Monchengladbach kept their weak title hopes alive with a 2-1 Rheinland derby win over Cologne in the first Bundesliga game played behind closed doors due to corona virus.
The Swiss striker opened the score in the first half with a great curling effort, before delivering the cross that yielded Jorge Mere’s own goal in the second period.
Mark Uth scored a nice consolation attempt for Koln with 10 minutes to go, but Gladbach resisted some late pressure from the visitors to score an essential three points for their title references.
The game between Borussia Monchengladbach and Cologne was played behind closed doors
The empty Gladbach ultra booth held up a sign ordering them to ‘win the derby’
Breel Embolo kept his ears in a party towards the empty stands after scoring
The game was overrun with controversy when the city of Mönchengladbach ordered the game to be played behind closed doors the day before the game due to the coronavirus outbreak. It was the first time that a Bundesliga game was played without fans in the stadium.
Despite a lack of fans, Gladbach took a lead from the first half when Embolo curled a brilliant left foot in the 32nd minute, before amusingly celebrating by bending his ears to the empty seats.
The home team could have doubled their lead just after the break, as Patrick Hermann continued to run on goal, but his effort was saved by Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn.
Embolo (second right) curled in the opener for Gladback on Wednesday after 32 minutes
Embolo celebrates in front of the empty stands during the Rhineland Derby on Wednesday
But the second goal eventually came into play with twenty minutes when Embolo’s searching cross was heading for teammate Marcus Thuram to tap an empty net, but Mere’s outstretched leg eventually became the decisive touch when the Cologne defender got an unfortunate own target.
Mark Uth provided a consolation to the visitors, who entered his left foot and fired home to score his fourth league goal of the season, creating a nerve-racking last minute for the home team.
Cologne almost made a comeback point late in the game, but Uth was only able to shoot close to Yan Sommer, while Dominik Drexler shot wide in what turned out to be the penultimate kick of the game.
The result lifts Gladbach to fourth place in the German top flight, six points behind league-leader Bayern Munich, while Cologne remains in tenth place, ten points above the relegation play-off spot.
Jorge Mere (right) scored an unfortunate own goal from Embolo’s cross in the 70th minute
Embolo (center) celebrates turning supplier for what turned out to be the winning goal
Mark Uth (right) retired a goal for Koln with a smart run and finished with ten minutes left
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