Breel Embolo (Front, L) of Monchengladbach vies with Ellyes Skhiri of Cologne during a German Bundesliga match between Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Cologne in Monchengladbach, Germany, March 11, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the match was held behind closed doors for the first time in Bundesliga history, accoring to German media. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)
BERLIN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Borussia Monchengladbach climb into the top four after Breel Embolo provided a goal and an assist to overpower local rivals Cologne 2-1 in the rearranged tie of the 21st round in the Bundesliga on Wednesday.
The fixture was postponed due to the storm Ciara on February 10, nonetheless Monchengladbach started the derby highly motivated and controlled possession from the kick off.
Despite Monchengladbach's good start it was the visitors who produced the first clear cut chance of the game as Mark Uth pulled a free kick just over the crossbar 21 minutes into the game.
The opener was scored at the other end of the pitch with 30 minutes played as Patrick Herrmann teed up for Embolo, who curled the ball from inside the box into the far corner to take a narrow 1-0 advantage into the half time.
The "Foals" remained in control of proceedings after the restart and they should have doubled their lead but Herrmann was unable to beat onrushing Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn in the 51st minute.
Marco Rose's men then sewed up all three points in the 70th minute when Jorge Mere cleared Embolo's dangerous cross into his own goal, making it 2-0 on the scoreboards for the hosts.
Cologne responded well as Uth intercepted a misplaced pass from goalkeeper Yann Sommer to slot home into the top left corner in the 81st minute.
Monchengladbach had to sweat in the closing period as Uth had another promising chance on target, which was defused by Sommer from very close range.
With the result, Borussia Monchengladbach jump to 4th in the standings meanwhile newly promoted Cologne stay in 10th.
"We played well but were unlucky with a couple of chances. I think a share of the spoils would have been fair enough but the scoreboards display a 2-1 for Monchengladbach," Cologne head coach Markus Gisdol said.
