DORTMUND, Germany :Borussia Dortmund struck three times in nine first-half minutes to battle past visiting Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-2 in the Bundesliga on Sunday, and keep their slim hopes of a top four finish alive with four matches left to play.
Only five days after their Champions League exit to Barcelona despite a 3-1 quarter-final second leg win, Dortmund came from a goal down to bag the win that lifted them to seventh on 45 points, four off fourth spot, the last place to offer automatic Champions League qualification.
“It was important that we beat a strong Gladbach team,” said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac.
“We have a good development but we have to win the next game. It is only about us and on the 17th of May (season finale) we will know more about where we stand.”
The hosts had complete control at the start with more than 70 per cent possession and two good chances before Gladbach struck against the run of play with Ko Itakura in the 24th minute.
The Japanese, however, allowed Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy too much space in the box in the 41st to drill in from a Pascal Gross cutback after good early work from substitute Carney Chukwuemeka.
The introduction of Chukwuemeka a few minutes before their first goal completely changed their game, adding speed and punch down the wings.
Only three minutes after levelling, in an almost identical move it was Felix Nmecha who slotted in to put them in front before Daniel Svensson headed in on the rebound deep in first half stoppage time.
“Things did not initially go as planned with Gladbach’s first goal and the injury of Maximilian Beier (in the 35th),” Kovac said.
“But overall after the game against Barcelona and Bayern (last week) it was another tough game but we gave it all and earned the three points through hard work.
Gladbach pulled a goal back with a Kevin Stoeger penalty in the 56th but Dortmund held on for their third league win in the last four games.
