the Gladbach twelve

Adversity is something you overcome and while Gladbach supporters agonized as 1899 scored late to level the match, the point is made that the fight is on and we will not be back down.

To summarize that match, 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 Gladbach.

The match began at a well controlled pace with good defensive discipline. 1899'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 Gladbach the lead past the half hour, before the 1899 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 meters giving Gladbach the 1-0 lead.

After the break, 1899 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-meters, 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 Gladbach would walk away with three points. However Wellington who had entered for Andreas Ibertsberger with four minutes left, was able to head the ball in as regulation time ran out. Following the goal Roberto Colautti came in for Karim Matmour and die Fohlen stormed forward. Quick hitting efforts by Oliver Neuville and Colautti were stopped and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

A tough draw but one that can be built upon.