Union strike late to reclaim top spot

Union Berlin 2-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 0-1 Elvedi 33’ (assist: Stindl), 1-1 Behrens 79’ (assist: Leite), 2-1 Doekhi 90'+7 (assist: Leweling)

Despite being displaced at the Bundesliga summit on Saturday by Bayern, Union kicked off Sunday’s Matchday 12 action knowing victory here would see them return to top spot. Die Eisernen started brightly, especially with Janik Haberer, who had a shot blocked from close range by Joe Scally and then fired the ensuing corner into the arms of Tobias Sippel from 20 yards. It wasn’t until midway through the first half that Gladbach finally mustered up an effort on goal, but Alassane Plea’s free-kick was tipped over the bar by Frederik Ronnow. The Berliners thought they had gone ahead when Rani Khedira’s effort from outside the box deflected off Sheraldo Becker and past a wrong-footed Sippel, but it was chalked off on review for handball. And moments later, Borussia went up the other end to score themselves, Nico Elvedi heading in a Lars Stindl corner.

This was only the third game this season where Union had trailed. They had lost the previous two against Eintracht Frankfurt and Bochum, but it took them until well past the hour mark to muster up their next big chance. After Borussia failed to clear their lines, an initial cross from the right was missed but the ball came back from the left, where Julian Ryerson met it with his head from six yards out, only to see his attempt hooked away off the line by former Union man Marvin Friedrich. The capital club finally managed a breakthrough when substitute Behrens met a long Diogo Leite cross and headed into an empty net as Sippel came flying out and missed the ball. The hosts thought they had a winner when Christopher Trimmel headed in as well, but it was ruled out for offside. That winner would in fact come seven minutes into added time when Danilho Doekhi turned in Jamie Leweling’s cross with the last touch of the game to move a point back ahead of Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table.

• Elvedi got the 11th Bundesliga goal of his career but just his second away from home. It was also Gladbach’s first headed goal of 2022/23.
• Gladbach’s five goals from corners is the most of any Bundesliga team this season.
• Five of the just nine goals Union have conceded this term have been from set pieces.
• Behrens and Doekhi got Union’s sixth and seventh headed goals of the season – a league high.
• Behrens's goal was his third in the Bundesliga – all have come from the bench. Only teammate Sven Michel has scored more times as a sub for Union in the Bundesliga (five).
• Stindl made his 250th competitive appearance for the Foals; Robin Knoche his 100th for Union.

>>> See how your Fantasy team got on!

Watch: Doekhi: "Incredible!"

Union: Ronnow - Doekhi, Knoche, Leite - Ryerson, Schäfer (Haraguchi 59’), Khedira (c), Haberer (Leweling 74’), Puchacz (Trimmel 59’) - Becker (Behrens 74’), Jordan (Michel 59’)
Unused subs: Grill, Baumgartl, Seguin, Thorsby
Out: Möhwald (fitness)
Coach: Urs Fischer

Gladbach: Sippel - Scally, Friedrich, Elvedi, Bensebaini (Jantschke 90’+1) - Weigl, Kramer - Ngoumou (Herrmann 74’), Stindl (c) (Sanches 85’), Plea (Netz 74’) - Thuram
Unused subs: Olschowsky, Fraulo, Reitz, Noß, Müsel
Out: Hofmann (shoulder), Itakura (knee), Kone (suspended), Lainer (not included), Neuhaus (knee), Sommer (ankle), Wolf (shoulder)
Coach: Daniel Farke

Watch: Ryerson: "An amazing feeling"