By Derek Wilson, dpa
Berlin (dpa) – Borussia Moenchengladbach scored twice in the first half to secure a 3-1 win over Hoffenheim Sunday while Eintracht Frankfurt’s late 2-1 victory over Mainz relegated Bundesliga bottom club Hanover.
An own goal from Jeremy Toljan after seven minutes and Mahmoud Dahoud’s strike just before half-time set Gladbach en route to victory against a Hoffenheim side which replied through Andrej Kramaric after the break. Andre Hahn then wrapped up the win on the counter-attack to keep Gladbach in the hunt for the Champions League places.
At the other end of the table, Frankfurt’s Marco Russ cancelled out Daniel Brosinski’s early free kick for Mainz and Aenis Ben-Hatira won the game when a late cross deflected off Stefan Bell and into the net.
«We have put an enormous effort (into the game) and were finally rewarded for once,» Frankfurt CEO Heribert Bruchhagen said. «It would have been fatal if we had taken only one point out of this game.
«Now we are all full of hope again that we can succeed in turning the tide.»
Frankfurt remain second-bottom, one point behind Werder Bremen in the relegation play-off place. Hanover are nine points adrift of Bremen with three games remaining but, as Werder meet Frankfurt on the final day, cannot catch both of the clubs above them.
Mainz stay sixth, three points behind fifth-placed Gladbach who moved within one point of fourth-placed Hertha Berlin in the last of the Champions League spots.
«We have 48 points and are currently wonderfully placed,» Gladbach sport director Max Eberl told Sky TV. «Now we have three games left to finish it.»
Hoffenheim are 14th and with only a three-point cushion from the relegation play-off place are not yet guaranteed top-flight football next season.
«We can look forward to the next few weeks and try to pick up the necessary points,» said Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Gladbach started brightly and needed only seven minutes to open the scoring with a lovely team goal. Defender Toljan turned Oscar Wendt’s cross into his own net though Hahn would have scored had he not intervened.
Hoffenheim’s Mark Uth failed to connect properly on a rare chance to equalize as Gladbach dominated and the hosts doubled their lead in the 45th minute. Keeper Oliver Baumann failed to hold a shot from Raffael and Dahoud calmly slotted past the defenders covering the line.
An error from full-back Nico Elvedi allowed Kevin Volland to set up Kramaric to pull one back early in the second half but Hoffenheim’s comeback hopes were ended on the hour. A careless giveaway in midfield allowed the excellent Hahn to counter and this time he did get his name on the scoresheet by beating Baumann.
Both teams spurned further opportunities but Gladbach’s win was never in doubt.
«We have dominated every aspect of the game and thoroughly deserved to win,» Gladbach coach Andre Schubert said. «It was a good performance.»
There was a scrappy opening in Frankfurt before Brosinski produced a rare moment of quality to curl home a brilliant free kick in the 19th minute.
Russ equalized in 28 from a scrambled set piece and after the interval Frankfurt were dominant as they searched for the winner they needed to increase their survival chances.
Ben-Hatira dragged wide and keeper Loris Karius made a stunning save from Haris Seferovic’s header before finally being beaten again six minutes from time.
Bell is likely to be credited with an own goal but could do little to prevent his attempted block on Ben-Hatira’s cross looping over the helpless Karius and into the far corner.
«I can’t explain the feeling when the ball went in,» Ben-Hatira said.
«We all needed this win but must build on it next week against Darmstadt.»
