Granit Xhaka's 91st minute header sealed all three points in a fiercely brilliant Rhine-Derby, which was marred by crowd trouble.
It was an evenly contested opening minutes in the Rhine-Derby, Yuya Osako header after just a minute edged just wide of the mark, following Pawel Olkowski’s delivery. Then ten minutes later, Gladbach had their first chance, Ibrahima Traore’s passed to Max Kruse who turned and shot left footed but his effort just too high from the top corner.
Then after fifteen minutes, Anthony Ujah squandered a golden chance, Mattias Lehmann found Ujah but his effort too high.
Long ball from Borussia Mönchengladbach was headed down by Kruse to Patrick Hermann his right footed effort stung the hands of Timo Horn who pushed the ball away from danger. Soon after, Raffael’s effort was blocked after Hermann turned provider with his header down.
Moments later, Köln broke to the other end; Daniel Halfar’s right footed effort was blocked. Brilliantly transition play from the away side but also great defending to match from the hosts.
On the half an hour mark, Julian Korb’s chance was palmed out of the top corner by Horn following Christoph Kramer’s delivery. A minute later, Osako conceded a corner. Roel Brouwers met Kruse’s delivery but his header misses the target. Eight minutes before the break, the derby was still yet to see a goal, Patrick Hermann with his third chance of the game, his volley missed the target again.
The second half resumed, brilliantly play from Xhaka and Raffael, Raffael turned and done brilliantly to beat Mavraj, but his shot straight at Horn.
Borussia Mönchengladbach looking the likelier of scoring, Granit Xhaka’s shot from distance was pushed over. Then Kruse was set through on goal his shot brilliantly saved by Horn who came out to the German.
Köln’s Daniel Halfar nearly broke the deadlock as his right footed effort from distance just missed, skimming the right hand post.
Thirteen minutes remaining and Patrick Hermann found himself a yard of space outside the box, he let fly forcing a brilliant save by Horn who had to get down to the strike sharply, the attempt looked destined to find its way into the net.
Köln’s January signing Deyverson also found himself some space outside the box, his effort going just wide of Sommer’s goal.
Bang on stoppage time, Kevin Wimmer brought down Branimir Hrgota in a dangerous area. Thorgan Hazard delivered, Granit Xhaka whose header crept in the far post to send the Borussia-Park crowd into pandemonium. The Swiss international’s last gasp winner in the Rhine-Derby was enough to seal all three points in a fiery derby.