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Yann Sommer (archive image)
Photo:
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Borussia Mönchengladbach missed a big step towards relegation on matchday 28.
Coach Adi Hütter's team, despite being in the lead, only drew 1-1 (1-0) against Mainz 05.
Gladbach, in twelfth place, is now eight points ahead of a relegation zone.
Opponent Mainz is in tenth place with four points more.
Gladbach's goal was played beautifully: a side shift was followed by one-two passes, in the end Florian Neuhaus dribbled into the penalty area and put it across to Breel Embolo, who put the ball into the goal to take the lead (33rd minute).
The attacker almost scored another goal, but shot the ball into the arms of Mainz keeper Robin Zentner (36').
Sommer saves Gladbach several times
Shortly after the restart, Mainz had a great chance to equalize: Leandro Barreiro marched halfway across the field and initially shot at the post. Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer was able to steer the follow-up shot over the crossbar with a world-class save when Jonathan Burkardt fell (48').
The goal then came almost 25 minutes later.
First Sommer parried a shot from Lee Jae-Sung, a substitute from Mainz, and then the time had come: Lee played Karim Onisiwo wonderfully free with a pass into the interface, the attacker didn't miss the opportunity and scored with a hard shot into the left corner Compensation (73').
It was thanks to Sommer that Gladbach didn't lose as well: Shortly before the end of regular time, the keeper made two great saves again.
First he saved an attempt by Burkardt, then he deflected a header from Lee onto the crossbar and held the ball in the follow-up (89').
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