Stuttgart stunned as Hack doppelpack inspires Gladbach
With a host of player absentees due to the African Cup of Nations and Asian Cup, Stuttgart succumbed to a 3-1 defeat to Gerardo Seoane’s hungry Gladbach outfit.
Gladbach made the ideal start to their afternoon kick-off with Stuttgart as Robin Hack thrusted Die Fohlen into a 1-0 lead inside an astonishing 21 seconds of play. Honorat and Reitz combined nicely to present the winger with the chance to curl past Nuebel. Gladbach’s intensity was double that of their opponents and Hack made it a brace just before the 20th minute – Plea timed his pass to perfection as Hack gave the Stuttgart shot-stopper the eyes to tuck home inside the left upright.
The Swabians started to find their feet as the half wore on and Deniz Undav came within the breadth of the post from reducing the deficit after the half hour mark. Six minutes later, Maximilian Mittelstadt’s fine cross landed at the striker’s feet again, but the ball hobbled across Moritz Nicolas’ goalmouth to safety.
Hoeness made a solitary change at the break which consisted of Leweling replacing Stenzel. Stuttgart looked full of intent as Undav forced Nicolas into a fine save low to his left upright. The visitors continued pressure told in the 55th minute when Vagnoman reduced the arrears. Linking up with Millot, the versatile wingback whipped past Nicolas from the edge of the box with his weaker left foot.
Such was Stuttgart’s dominance, Gladbach didn’t have an opportunity until the 78th minute. The ball fell to Marvin Friedrich who ought to have shot instantly rather than taking an initial touch. Robin Hack came within inches of bagging the hattrick in the 82nd minute only to fire past Nuebel and the post. The result was put beyond doubt late into injury time as Jordan reacted quickest to guide home Manu Kone’s shot which originally cannoned off the post.