BERLIN (AP) - Leipzig held on for a 2-1 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach to cut Bayern Munich’s lead in the Bundesliga to five points on Sunday.
Emil Forsberg scored one and set up another for the promoted side to end its two-game losing streak and stay on course for Champions League qualification with its 14th win of the season.
“We showed that we’re ready to get momentum behind us,” Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl said.
’Gladbach ’keeper Yann Sommer pulled off a brilliant fingertip save to deny Marcel Sabitzer early on, but he was powerless to stop Forsberg from breaking the deadlock after half an hour played.
Sabitzer and Timo Werner played their way through the static ’Gladbach defense and Werner laid the ball off for the Sweden midfielder to fire inside the bottom left corner.
The home side was given a lifeline when Marvin Compper brought down Lars Stindl and referee Felix Zwayer pointed to the spot, but Peter Gulacsi saved Thorgan Hazard’s penalty before the break.
More poor defending allowed Werner grab the second 10 minutes after the break, firing inside the far post after Forsberg played him through.
Jannik Vestergaard pulled one back with a powerful header from a corner to set up an exciting finale. However, six minutes of injury time were not enough for an equalizer.
“Leipzig weren’t better, they were more effective,” ’Gladbach coach Dieter Hecking said. “We simply have to be more forceful.”
Leipzig had kicked off to a chorus of whistles from the home fans, who then mostly stayed silent till the 19th minute in protest against the visiting side. Huge banners in the north stand said “Traditional club since 1900” - an apparent protest against Leipzig, founded in 2009 when Austrian energy-drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz rebranded a fifth-tier team with his company’s livery before financing its steady promotion through the lower leagues.
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COLOGNE 1, SCHALKE 1
Cologne stopped Schalke’s progress but the point was enough for the visiting side to overtake ’Gladbach on goal difference in 10th.
Alessandro Schoepf got the visitors off to a flying start in the second minute with the help of the left post, and Leon Goretzka hit the post after half an hour with the home side still struggling to get into the game.
But Anthony Modeste equalized before the break with a fine strike inside the far post, and might even have scored again just minutes later, when his hesitation allowed Benedikt Hoewedes get back and clear.
Guido Burgstaller came closest to a winner for Schalke in the second half, his shot just wide of the far post after beating the goalkeeper.
“With a bit of luck we would have won the game. Unfortunately the ball just went a couple of centimeters past,” Burgstaller said.
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