Tabakovic rescues Gladbach with stoppage-time equaliser at Leverkusen
Substitute’s late header earns struggling visitors their first Bundesliga goal of the season
LEVERKUSEN, Germany – Substitute Haris Tabakovic struck a stoppage-time equaliser to give Borussia Moenchengladbach their first Bundesliga goal of the season and a 1-1 draw away to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
The Swiss forward rose highest in the dying minutes to head in from a Charles Herrmann corner, cancelling out Malik Tillman’s 70th-minute opener for the hosts and sparing Gladbach a fourth straight defeat.
Gladbach arrived in Leverkusen under interim coach Eugen Polanski, promoted from the youth ranks after Gerardo Seoane was dismissed last week following the club’s worst league start in 34 years. Their struggles in front of goal looked set to continue despite a spirited first-half showing in which Jens Castrop’s thunderous strike was chalked off for offside in the build-up.
Leverkusen, who had dominated possession and probed patiently, finally broke the deadlock midway through the second half when Tillman was left unmarked to slot home from 10 metres after neat approach play down the right. The goal lifted the BayArena crowd, sensing a routine home win against opponents short on confidence.
But Gladbach, winless in 11 league matches stretching back to last season, refused to fold. Tabakovic, introduced late in the second half, provided the decisive impact when he outjumped the defence to glance his header beyond goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, silencing the home fans and sparking relief among the travelling supporters.
The point leaves Leverkusen in 12th place on five points from four matches, while Gladbach remain second from bottom on two points but at least broke their goal drought under Polanski’s stewardship.
Bayern Munich top the standings with a perfect 12 points after their 4-1 victory at Hoffenheim on Saturday, while Leverkusen face a climb if they are to keep pace with the champions. Gladbach, meanwhile, will hope Tabakovic’s late strike can provide the spark to arrest their prolonged slump.