Player Ratings | Union Berlin 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach – Duo for Doekhi seals win for Union | OneFootball

Union Berlin entertained Borussia Mönchengladbach under the lights of Köpenick on a chilly Friday night but warmed the hearts and hands thanks to a brace from Danilho Doekhi and an emphatic volley by Rani Khedira.

Story of the match

With Gladbach fans lighting fireworks off the pitch, Union Berlin provided the fireworks on the pitch.

Inside three minutes, die Eisernen were ahead.

A pinpoint Christopher Trimmel corner was met emphatically by Danilho Doekhi, whose head flew into the top corner.

In the ninth minute, Union nearly doubled their lead from another corner.

Gladbach could only clear the ball as far as Derrick Köhn on the edge of the box but he pulled his shot narrowly wide of the right post.

Tim Skarke went close in the 15th minute as his effort from the right flashed past the post with Nicolas Moritz stranded in the Gladbach goal.

Union did eventually extend their lead and it was Doekhi again.

Rather less emphatically, Ilyas Ansah walked through the Gladbach defence and fired across goal against the right hand post.

Like a native striker, Doekhi pounced on the rebound to tap into an empty net in the 26th minute.

Gladbach’s first chance came a few minutes later.

A smart cut back on the right saw Florian Neuhaus in acres of space but his scuffed shot was comfortably saved by Frederik Rönnow.

The visitors had halved the deficit five minutes later.

Yannik Engelhardt turned the Union defence inside-out before releasing Haris Tabakovic into the box.

Tabakovic scored in midweek for Bosnia & Herzegovina against Malta and continued his form with a lovely curling strike into the top right corner.

Gladbach’s momentum continued into the second half.

In the 58th minute, Tabakovic was denied six yards out by a desperate intervention by Aljoscha Kemlein.

Gladbach should have equalised ten minutes later but Tabakovic flashed a golden chance over the bar from 12 yards.

Union Berlin:

Union Berlin lineup (5-4-1):

F. Rønnow, 7Diogo Leite, 8L. Querfeld, 7D. Doekhi, 9 – Danilho Two-ekhi was formidable this evening. His first goal was all power and timing, his second was intuition and positioning. In truth, why a centre-back was so far up the pitch during open play to pick up a rebound off the post, I don’t know. But that’s why I’m a (mediocre) journalist and Doekhi is a professional footballer.D. Köhn, 7A. Kemlein, 8 – Kemlein did not have the easiest responsibilities of the night as a holding midfielder. Often the lynchpin in attack and the last man in defence, the young German provided a mature and assured performance. His intervention to block Tabakovic in the second half was a match defining moment.

R. Khedira, 8 – A true captains performance from Khedira after Trimmel was forced off in the first half and a goal to savour that sealed the three points for Union Berlin. It was composed and commanding, everything we have come to expect from Khedira. C. Trimmel (c), 8 – 39 minutes of everything that makes Trimmel a joy to watch. Organised, tough, willing to put his body on the line to win a 50/50, and a classy assist for Union’s opening goal. Unfortunately, a knee injury forced him off early, but another vital contribution to his beloved club tonight.

Ansah, 8 – Ansah seemed to have the freedom of Gladbach’s box for most of the game. His quick feet and attacking dribbles were reminiscent of Benedict Hollerbach (remember him?), and just as effective. His trickery for Union’s second goal was mesmerising and he was unlucky to see his effort bounce off the post.T. SkarkeA. Ilić, 5 – Apart from a double brace of assists in Union Berlins 4-3 win away to Frankfurt, Ilic has struggled this season. Tonight was another game to forget for the Serbian, who looked tired, uninspired, and cumbersome on the ball. Ilic is in desperate need of a confidence boost but it is unclear where it will come from when he is struggling to even bring the ball under control. His first touch was missing (again) tonight.

Substitutions:

Woo-yeong Jeong, 7J. Haberer, 7

A. Král, 6M. LjubičićD. BogdanovM. RaabT. Rothe, 6 S. Nsoki

O. Burke

Gladbach:

Borussia Mönchengladbach lineup (4-2-3-1)

M. Nicolas, 5 – Nicolas was a bystander for the three Union goals and failed to command his box at set-pieces. Union were more dominant in the air and Nicolas did little to make things easier from corners. His distribution was equally questionable.K. Diks, 6M. Friedrich, 6N. Elvedi, 6J. Scally, 5 – The American struggled to make an impression tonight and was often a passenger. Behind play and off the pace, his performance was symptomatic of wider issues in a disjointed Gladback display that failed to link midfield and attack.J. Castrop, 5Y. Engelhardt, 7P. Sander, 7R. Reitz (c), 7F. Neuhaus, 7H. Tabaković, 7 – For much of the game, Union defenders were too physical and stifled Tabakovic. But a good striker makes opportunities, and his goal in the first half was well timed and well taken. Unfortunately, Gladbach may be over-reliant on the Bosnian forward to avoid relegation this season and his missed chances in the second half proved the difference.

Substitutions:O. FrauloF. Honorat, 6W. MohyaL. NetzJ. OmlinG. ReynaK. Stöger, 8 – Stöger made more of an impact in 30 minutes than his counterparts did in the preceding hour. His passing was crisp, his tackling was hard, and he often found a forward pass when his peers were looking backwards. If Gladbach are to stop their slide into relegation, than Stöger will need more game time.

L. Ullrich, 6J. Urbich, 6 – With just over ten minutes off the bench, a lot was asked of the young German forward after scoring two goals in midweek in a friendly against Munster. However, with Tabakovic providing a lonely attacking threat for Gladbach, Urbich’s contribution will be critical in the season the come.

Player of the Match: Danilho Doekhi

Doekhi has scored nine headed goals since his debut in 2002. No defender in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more.

Doekhi is a commanding presence at the best of times and tonight, he carried Union over the line in defence and attack.

The victory moves Union Berlin level on points with FC Köln in sixth, already seven points clear of Gladbach at the foot of the table.

Based on their performances so far, it could be a long and arduous season for the visitors.

GGFN | Oscar O’Mara