Wael Mohya leads Borussia Monchengladbach to first Bundesliga win of season

Seventeen-year-old Wael Mohya scored once and set up another as Borussia Monchengladbach recovered from an early setback to beat Stuttgart 3-2 and claim their first Bundesliga points of the season.

The victory ended Gladbach’s six-match losing run and ensured they did not become the first team in Bundesliga history to lose their opening seven matches without earning a point.

“It’s an amazing feeling to finally get our first win of the season,” Mohya said. “We came here determined to get something from the game, so I’m absolutely delighted that we managed to do that. Being able to help the team with an assist and a goal makes it even better.”

Stuttgart made the stronger start and took the lead after only five minutes. Ermedin Demirovic met the ball with a powerful long-range volley which flew past Gladbach goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas.

The hosts had chances to add to their advantage, but their failure to take them allowed Borussia Monchengladbach to stay in the contest.

Joe Scally brought Gladbach level before the interval with a backheel finish after Zento Uno’s volley had returned the ball to a dangerous position. The visitors almost completed the turnaround in stoppage time, when Mohya struck the crossbar.

Gladbach moved ahead soon after the restart. Mohya held off two defenders with a combination of strength and skill before creating the opening for Shuto Machino, who finished decisively inside the near post.

The teenager then scored himself to put the visitors 3-1 ahead. After Stuttgart gave the ball away, Scally delivered a cross towards the far post, where Mohya arrived to head home from close range.

That goal continued Mohya’s run of scoring in consecutive Bundesliga matches.

Demirovic reduced the deficit with a header to give Stuttgart hope of rescuing a result. Nicolas then made a crucial save to keep out Jamie Leweling and secure Gladbach’s first league victory of the campaign.

Gladbach head coach Alexander Blessin praised his players for recovering after conceding so early.

“This is the third time we’ve come back from a deficit, but this time we also managed to turn the game in our favour in the end,” Blessin told Sky Sports.

“After conceding an early goal, we stayed in the game, gained more confidence, won the ball back well, and found a clear structure. The important thing is that we’ve now started picking up points, and everyone can see that the team is alive and kicking.”

Head of sport Rouven Schroder said the result relieved the pressure created by six successive defeats.

“The whole club can breathe a sigh of relief now because we’ve finally got going in the league,” Schroder said on Gladbach’s official website.

He added that the players had shown courage, intensity and commitment, and estimated they had covered 128 kilometres during the match.

Mohya said the squad must use the win as a foundation for the matches ahead. Gladbach host Karlsruhe in the second round of the DFB-Pokal before returning to Bundesliga action against fellow strugglers SC Paderborn.