’Gladbach’s Mahmoud Dahoud, left, and Mainz’s Yunus Malli challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and Mainz 05 in Moenchengladbach, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016. (Photo by FEDERICO GAMBARINI/DPA via AP)
BERLIN (AP) — Struggling Borussia Moenchengladbach ended its eight-game winless run in the Bundesliga with a labored 1-0 win over visiting Mainz on Sunday.
Danish defender Andreas Christensen’s late goal was enough for ’Gladbach’s first win since the 2-0 victory over Ingolstadt on Sept. 24, though the side was fortunate not to concede an equalizer when Pablo de Blasis’s 89th-minute strike was ruled out.
There were whistles from some home fans at the break after a first half in which Mainz had a penalty appeal after Tobias Strobl blocked Gaetan Bussmann’s header with his hand, and Karim Onisiwo had two good chances.
Lars Stindl had the home side’s first real chance midway through the half when he shot straight at the goalkeeper and Raffael wasted another good opportunity when he dwelled too long on the ball.
’Gladbach’s players looked unsettled and short of confidence. Too many passes failed to find their intended target, too many touches failed to have the desired outcome.
Raffael might have opened the scoring after the break when facing just once defender but again the Brazilian was let down by his touch. Likewise Mahmoud Dahoud, Stindl and others appeared to be off their games.
It seemed the only way ’Gladbach could manage to score was in a scramble or through a deflection and so it proved with a quarter-hour remaining when Andreas Christensen scooped the ball home after Stindl’s initial effort from a corner was blocked.
Mainz players were left fuming when De Blasis’ effort was ruled out, apparently because referee Robert Hartmann thought Yann Sommers’ hand was on the ball before the substitute prodded it in.
There was still time for Mainz midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin to be sent off with his second yellow card and for Dahoud to miss an easy chance to make it 2-0 in injury time.
Schalke was hosting Bayer Leverkusen later Sunday.