Newcastle 0 Gladbach 1

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At St. James' Park

 

 

Newcastle United 0

Borussia Monchengladbach 1 (Hazard 65)

 

Newcastle United completed their pre-season schedule with a 1-0 home defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday.

Thorgan Hazard's second-half strike was enough to separate the sides at St. James' Park, although the result was slightly harsh on the Magpies, who arguably created the better chances of the friendly.

Gabriel Obertan, Mike Williamson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Massadio Haidara all threatened before the interval for Steve McClaren's men, while early in the second period Sissoko almost broke the deadlock.

However, that was eventually managed by Hazard - younger brother of Chelsea star Eden - who stroked home from the edge of the area.

As time ticked away an equaliser almost arrived but new signing Aleksandar Mitrovic saw a close-range strike thump the post after intelligent build-up play from Siem de Jong.

Despite the result, it was a largely encouraging performance by United, who passed the ball well and carved out chances against one of the Bundesliga's best sides, and Newcastle kick-off their Barclays Premier League campaign next Sunday against Southampton.

Monchengladbach made most of the early running but were unable to test Tim Krul during the opening exchanges, with just a couple of wayward efforts from Mahmoud Dahoud and Ibrahima Traore to show for their efforts.

United's response came in the tenth minute through Obertan who raced down the left before cutting inside and dragging a right-footed strike narrowly wide of the near post. It was much like his goal against Leicester last season, apart from striking inches the wrong side of the upright.

It wasn't long before the Magpies went even closer - this time centre-back Williamson rising highest to meet Jack Colback's corner but, under pressure, heading agonisingly over the top.

At the other end, Raffael struck a 25-yard free-kick well off target as Monchengladbach threatened to turn their dominance into goals.

But Newcastle had other ideas and in the 38th minute Wijnaldum came close to grabbing his third goal in four games. Moussa Sissoko's run down the right flank ended with the Frenchman cutting the ball back for Cisse.

Although his first-time shot had accuracy, it lacked a bit of power, but Wijanldum tried to help it past Yann Sommer with a cheeky flick, only to see the visiting goalkeeper block his effort.

And right on the stroke of half-time Sommer had to be at his best again, flying to his right to beat away Haidara's fierce drive after the left-back had been picked out by Colback's short corner.

As the second period got underway, the Magpies continued where they had left off.

Less than 40 seconds had elapsed when Sissoko beat the offside trap to race on to Vurnon Anita's lofted pass. The Frenchman took a touch and tried to put a strike over Sommer, but saw his effort strike the underside of the bar and bounce out again, with Cisse screwing the rebound wide.

Monchengladbach raced straight up the other end and Krul was forced into action by Lars Stindl's low curler, which threatened to creep into the corner of his net.

Throughout pre-season, Wijnaldum had illustrated the knack of getting into the box at just the right time, and he showed it again on 52 minutes, arriving right on cue to meet Daryl Janmaat's delivery but unable to get a good enough connection to trouble Sommer.

A raft of substitutions from both sides came midway through the half, including the introduction of Magpies new boys Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba.

But it was one of the visitors' replacements who broke the deadlock in the 65th minute.

As Monchengladbach attacked down the right, Newcastle failed to properly clear their lines and the ball found its way to the feet of Hazard, who placed a low shot beyond the grasp of Krul and into the back of the net.

Mitrovic went close to an equaliser soon after, rising well to meet a high, hanging delivery nodding straight at Sommer, while Wijnaldum was off target from the edge of the area after a corner caused chaos in the German defence.

With four minutes remaining, United - and every one of the 21,088 inside St. James' Park - thought they had their equaliser.

Substitute Ayoze Perez launched an inch-perfect ball in behind the Monchengladbach rearguard for Siem de Jong who, one-on-one with Sommer, intelligently opted to square into the path of Mitrovic.

Even though it was at a difficult height for the front man, it looked a certain goal but his subsequent strike cannoned back off the upright and away to safety.

And that was the hosts' final chance, as they completed their programme of pre-season games.

 

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul (c); Daryl Janmaat (Chancel Mbemba 62), Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor, Massadio Haidara; Vurnon Anita (Siem de Jong 75), Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko (Ayoze Perez 81), Georginio Wijnaldum, Gabriel Obertan (Rolando Aarons 62); Papiss Cisse (Aleksandar Mitrovic 62)

Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Shane Ferguson, Jamaal Lascelles, Gael Bigirimana, Olivier Kemen, Mehdi Abeid, Yoan Gouffran

 

Borussia Monchengladbach (4-4-2): Yann Sommer; Tony Jantschke (c) (Roel Brouwers 76), Andreas Christensen, Marvin Schulz (Havard Nordtveit 76), Oscar Wendt (Alvaro Dominguez 61); Ibrahima Traore (Marlon Ritter 84), Granit Xhaka (Julian Korb 76), Mahmoud Dahoud (Fabian Johnson 61), Patrick Herrmann (Josip Drmic 61); Lars Stindl, Raffael (Thorgan Hazard 61)

Subs not used: Tobias Sippel, Branimir Hrgota

 

Referee: Jon Moss

Bookings - Newcastle United - Taylor (72); Borussia Monchengladbach - none

 

Attendance: 21,088