AMSTERDAM – Borussia Monchengladbach winger Fabian Johnson capped a star showing by setting up the last-gasp 1-0 winner over high-flying VfL Wolfsburg as the home side clinched a place in the next edition of the UEFA Champions League in Sunday night Bundesliga action.
The US handyman (pictured above) was a constant nuisance to the second-place visitors, who arrived having lost just once in their last 17 league tilts. In addition to repeatedly eating yardage on the dribble, Johnson completed 29 of 34 passes and added a game-high four interceptions on the defensive end.
Johnson bounced a volley just over the bar in the 11th minute and then delivered a tempting low cross that Max Kruse failed to turn home midway through the opening frame. Shortly after the break, the American crossed for Patrick Hermann to force a good save before cleverly backheeling for left back Oscar Wendt to scoop just over the bar inside a three-minute span.
The Foals would finally break through in the 90th minute, with Johnson one-touching a left-wing cross into the path of Kruse, who made no mistake to bag the winner. Thanks to their eighth Bundesliga home win in a row, 'Gladbach recaptured third place and the Champions League group phase upgrade that comes with it, and ensured themselves at the very minimum a spot in the 2015-16 tournament's qualifying rounds.
Next door in the Eredivisie, Aron Johannsson bagged the insurance tally as AZ Alkmaar regained fourth place by blanking hosts FC Twente 2-0.
Though a bit starved for touches with the Tukkers hogging 63% of the ball, Johannsson made good on his only chance of the contest 10 minutes before intermission. The US forward applied the fatal close range touch after AZ right back Mattias Johansson wiggled into the area to provide the perfect centering feed.
It was Johannsson's sixth goal of the term and his first of the season that did not serve as a game-opening strike. The result pulled AZ back to within three points of an automatic Europa League invite with two rounds remaining.
Over in Norway, Cole Grossman went the distance in midfield as Bob Bradley's Stabaek scored a 2-0 victory at Lillestrom. By posting consecutive Tippeligaen wins for the first time in 11 months, the Blue Ones rose to fifth place.
Zarek Valentin worked a solid shift at right back as Bodo/Glimt rallied late for a 2-2 share at Sarpsborg 08. Grabbing their first point in four games this season, the visitors moved out of the league basement.
In nearby Finland, Freddy Adu notched an assist on KuPS' second goal in a 4-0 Suomen Cup quarterfinal win over visiting mites PK Keski-Uusimaa. The right winger, who worked all 90 minutes, served up the corner kick for the middle strike of Irakli Sirbiladze's hat trick in the 21st minute.
