Honours even in first friendly at Wegberg-Beeck

Borussia ended the first week of pre-season with a 1-1 draw against FC Wegberg-Beeck, who won promotion to the fourth tier last season. New signing Lukas Ullrich equalised for the Foals with a late goal.

New head coach Gerardo Seoane made his debut on the touchline, with his side controlling much of the first half. In particular, the left-sided players and Yvandro Borges Sanches were finding some success. However, neither Patrick Herrmann nor Alassane Plea were able to put away any of the chances created. Gladbach were subsequently punished by their hosts who clinically scored with their first effort of the game: Marc Kleefisch scored past Tobias Sippel on the turn to make it 1-0 shortly before half time (41’).

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Seoane sent a completely changed side out for the second half, who worked hard to break down the resolute Wegberg-Beeck defence in search of an equaliser. Despite some good combination play, the Foals were lacking the finishing touch. That changed eight minutes before full time as Lukas Ullrich scored directly from a cross in what was a spectacular equaliser (82’).

LINE-UP

Tony Jantschke led the Foals out as captain for the first half. He played at centre-back alongside Ibrahim Digberekou and in front of goalkeeper Tobias Sippel. Stefan Lainer (right-back) and Phil Kemper (left-back) made up the rest of the back four. Christopher Kramer and Julian Weigl lined up in defensive midfield behind an attacking-midfield trio of Patrick Herrmann, Alassane Plea and Yvandro Borges Sanches, and Grant-Leon Ranos led the line at centre forward. In the second half, Moritz Nicolas played in net, Simon Walde, Marvin Friedrich, Oscar Fraulo and Lukas Ullrich made up the back four, with Rocco Reitz and Florian Neuhaus playing in front of them in defensive midfield. The latter was named captain for the second 45 minutes, as Nathan Ngoumou, Hannes Wolf and Robin Hack played behind striker Semir Telalovic.

SQUAD NEWS

Whilst Lukas Ullrich, Grant-Leon Ranos and Robin Hack were all making their Gladbach debuts, this game came too soon for new signings Franck Honorat and Tomáš Čvančara. The same went for Nico Elvedi, who made his return to BORUSSIA-PARK on Wednesday and is still training individually.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

7’: First big chance for the Foals! Borges Sanches charges down the left flank before firing a low cross into the centre for the on-running Hermann, who tries to hit it first time with his left. His shot goes just wide of the target. 

17’: Borges Sanches does well again down the left wing, but his lofted cross towards Plea isn’t perfect, so the striker is unable to divert it towards goal. 

18’: Borges Sanches finds himself in a good position to shoot on this occasion but is unable to bring the ball under control on the turn which means his effort goes off target. 

32’: We came close to the opener there! Hermann is picked out from yet another cross from the left wing, and he shoots first time towards goal, forcing a good reaction save from goalkeeper Meier. 

36’: Meier denies us once more! Borges Sanches cuts in from the left and fires a powerful shot towards goal. The effort is too central and Wegberg’s keeper is able to pluck it from up above him in time.

41’: Goal for the hosts! Wegberg-Beeck win two headers in the box after it gets crossed in from the left, and the ball ends up at the feet of Kleefisch, who, in plenty of space, spins before tucking the ball into the bottom-left corner. Sippel had no chance.

45’+1: The Foals look for a swift reply down the left. Kemper puts it in the box on this occasion, but Borges Sanches is unable to make anything of it.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

54’: Wegberg-Beeck get a chance on the counter which culminates in Hasani having a shot on goal, but Nicolas prevents the hosts’ second with a strong reaction save. 

60’: Hack cuts inside after receiving the ball from a throw-in and narrowly shoots over Wegberg’s goal from 20 metres out. 

64’: Hack tries his luck once again, but this time the shot is too central to pose any problems. 

66’: The Foals put together a nice move, and it results in their latest effort on goal through Neuhaus, who narrowly misses. 

72’: Neuhaus is played through on goal once more, but he fires his shot over the bar.

82’: Equaliser for Borussia! A cross from Borussia’s new number 26 goes straight into the far corner – 1-1! 

MATCH STATS

Borussia (1st half): Sippel – Lainer, Digberekou, Jantschke, Kemper – Kramer, Weigl – Herrmann, Plea, Borges Sanches – Ranos

Borussia: (2nd half): Nicolas – Walde, Friedrich, Fraulo, Ullrich – Reitz, Neuhaus – Ngoumou, Wolf, Hack – Telalovic

Goals: 1-0 Kleefisch (41′), 1-1 Ullrich (82′)

Yellow cards: Hühne (Wegberg-Beeck)

Referee: Rene Heinen (Heinsberg)