Mainz pull-off shock win over Gladbach

Mainz climbed into the Bundesliga's top six on Friday by scoring their first goal in four games to seal their 1-0 upset win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Visitors Gladbach stay fourth in the table, but, after losing last week at home to Dortmund, slipped to their second straight defeat thanks to a superb first-half goal from Mainz's Christian Clemens.

After Gladbach's Guinea international Ibrahima Traore was robbed of possession, Mainz Spanish midfielder Jairo darted into space.

He held off would-be tacklers and squared for Clemens who lobbed Borussia's goalkeeper Yann Sommer from outside the area on 21 minutes.

Despite plenty of possession, Gladbach could not force the equaliser at Mainz's Coface Arena with Borussia's attacking midfielder Lars Stindl twice going close.

With 18 minutes left, both Stindl and defender Oscar Wendt were only denied by point-black defending from Mainz and the heroics of the hosts' goalkeeper Loris Karius.

Gladbach battered the Mainz defence with time running out, but Martin Schmidt's side held on for their first win in four games.

Andre Schubert's Gladbach have now lost three of their last four league games.
Source: AFP