In Kruse control
Wednesday 24 September 2014 21:41, UK
Max Kruse scored the only goal of the game as Borussia Monchengladbach climbed to sixth in the Bundesliga with a 1-0 win over Hamburg.
The Germany international struck in the 25th minute to inflict the first defeat on new Hamburg coach Josef Zinnbauer, who had started out with a 0-0 draw against Bayern Munich at the weekend.
It was a deserved second win of the season for Lucien Favre's men, who appear to be hitting their stride with two wins and three draws, extending their unbeaten start to the season while leaving Hamburg languishing at the foot of the table.
Gladbach coped well with a bright start from Hamburg, clearly buoyed by their draw against Bayern at the weekend.
It was not long before the hosts took control, though, and they went in front in the 25th minute when Kruse stretched out his leg and turned Raffael's cross against the right-hand post.
He responded the quickest to convert the rebound.
Gladbach wasted numerous chances to make it 2-0 as Hamburg started to look more and more like the team Zinnbauer had inherited from his predecessor Mirko Slomka - disorganised and fearful.
Raffael went the closest to adding a second for the hosts in the 62nd minute, but his shot was blocked.
They were almost punished for wasting so many chances when Johan Djourou headed a Lewis Holtby cross over, but that was only a very rare moment of danger in front of Yann Sommer's goal.
Indeed, the Swiss custodian was merely a spectator as most of the action took place at a safe distance from his goal with Gladbach never looking like they would let their lead slip.
