United States defender Joe Scally scored a late goal with a long-range strike to salvage a 2-2 draw for Borussia Mönchengladbach against visiting Mainz in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Gladbach was heading for yet another home loss after Aymen Barkok scored for the visitors, but Scally went past one defender and let fly with a fierce shot from distance that sent the ball inside the far post in the 88th minute.
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“I knew I was shooting it no matter what, when I got it,” Scally said. “But when I saw the goalie touch it with his hand, I thought it went over the net, but yeah, it’s a nice goal.”
Gladbach had previously lost all three home games in the Bundesliga this season — to Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
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The team’s first half summarized its frustrating start to the season. Gladbach dominated the early stages and deservedly took the lead in the 22nd when Franck Honorat crossed for Florian Neuhaus to head in the opener.
But Brajan Gruda equalized with a finish inside the top corner almost immediately afterward. It was the 19-year-old’s first Bundesliga goal and it came against the run of play for Mainz.
Mainz needed goalkeeper Robin Zentner to stop Nathan Ngoumou, then Ko Itakura from the resultant corner.
Barkok missed a great chance for Mainz when he fired straight at Gladbach ‘keeper Moritz Nicolas in the 72nd, but atoned by holding off Rocco Reitz’ challenge to score three minutes later.
Scally, who was named in the latest U.S. roster on Thursday, then saved Gladbach from yet another home defeat.
“It was a difficult game for us. We of course wanted to win, but to get the 2-2 at the end was very important,” Scally said. “For me, I’m very happy to get my first goal this season.”
