For the first time this season, Bayern Munich can’t claim to be undefeated. Borussia Mönchengladbach scored three second half goals to hand the Bundesliga leaders their first loss of the season. Andre Schubert’s side move up to third place in the Bundesliga, and American Fabian Johnson scored again to continue his fine form.
Gladbach spent a good portion of the first half fighting off a Bayern attack that looked like it could have scored a few times if not for the excellent play of goalkeeper Yann Sommer and at least one post. Unlike a lot of Bundesliga teams playing Bayern, Gladbach were not willing to just sit deep. As the first half wore on the Foals grew into the game and started to gain a little confidence.
The first half ended 0:0, and at the beginning of the second half, an ominous stat was mentioned. Bayern Munich hadn’t allowed a second half goal this season. That mattered little to the home side, however. Bayern started the second strong, but Gladbach were able to open the scoring. Johnson, who got in behind Philipp Lahm, crossed the ball into Oscar Wendt. Wendt, then played a perfect one-two with Raffael, and finished well beyond the outstretched arms of Manuel Neuer. Gladbach had the lead.
Gladbach with some tidy footwork inside the Bayern box, and Oscar Wendt is there to finish it off. WATCH: https://t.co/K3ZhHz2fhY
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 5, 2015
While the first goal was against the run of play, Wendt’s opener changed the complexion of the game as Bayern started to push forward in search of an equalizer. Gladbach started to control the match. The passing and movement around Bayern’s goal was impressive. Manuel Neuer was asked to make a world class save shortly after Gladbach had scored. Neuer’s save was all for naught, however, as minutes later Gladbach scored their second of the match. After a somewhat awkward freekick, Medhi Benatia lost track of Lars Stindl, who put the ball into Neuer’s net.
Lars Stindl gets on the end of Elvedi’s flick-on header, and taps in for Gladbach’s second of the match. https://t.co/oiNjUUP26P
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 5, 2015
Bayern, now in all-out-attack mode, were caught again for a third, this time it was Fabian Johnson’s turn. With most of Bayern’s defenders pushed high up the pitch, Johnson got on the end of a lofted through ball and was in all by himself. Jerome Boateng did his best to catch up, but Johnson was too far gone and slotted home his side’s third goal. Chaos ensued at Borussia-Park.
#USMNT midfielder Fabian Johnson stays onside, and adds a third for Gladbach to continue his goalscoring form. https://t.co/qB6D4fa0Om
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 5, 2015
Despite a late goal from the long-injured Franck Ribery, Gladbach managed to close the game out to stretch their unbeaten run to 12 games. Schubert has yet to lose in the Bundesliga this season. It has been a remarkable turnaround in Mönchengladbach. Things looked like a disaster at the start of the season, as Lucian Favre lead the team to 5 consecutive defeats before he stepped down. Since Schubert was appointed the team has been near unstoppable. Beating one of the best team’s in Europe has to be the pinnacle of this resurgence.
https://twitter.com/rossdunbar93/status/673175914235092997
For Johnson, he now becomes the second all-time leading American goal scorer in Bundesliga history, passing Michael Bradly. He’s still 9 goals back of Thomas Dooley, who has 20. Considering Johnson’s poor start to the season, which included being sent home from the USMNT, his turnaround has been just as impressive as that of his team’s. Johnson now has be be considered an automatic starter for Gladbach and the United States.
Bayern will be unhappy to have seen their unbeaten streak end, but for a team that has been accused of complacency later in the year, losing now can’t be the worst thing that could have happened. Ribery’s goal will also be cause for some joy, as the winger finally made his comeback, and looked comfortable in the few minutes he did play.
The day belonged to Borussia Mönchengladbach, however. They proved that Bayern are not invincible, and they proved that they are, in fact, a legitimate top-4 side. Gladbach and their fans will have to wonder, though, what if they started the season like this? Would there be a title race? Either way, they’ll celebrate today, and then get ready for Manchester City tomorrow.
