Freiburg beat Schalke to go top, Cologne win derby as fans misbehave
· Yahoo Sports
Freiburg went top of the Bundesliga after Keisuke Gotō made amends for Japanese compatriot Yuito Suzuki's dismissal with the late winner in a 2-1 victory over Schalke on Sunday.
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
The Black Forest side took advantage of Borussia Dortmund drawing 2-2 with Werder Bremen on Friday and Bayern Munich managing the same score at Augsburg on Saturday.
The Europa League runners-up moved on to 13 points after five games, above Dortmund on goal difference and two ahead of champions Bayern.
Maxi Eggestein put the home team in front when he pounced after Loris Karius had saved Matthias Ginter's header following a corner.
Schalke levelled in similar fashion on the half hour when Mio Backhaus' punch after a corner fell to Adrian Gantenbein, who scored on his first Bundesliga start.
Two bookings meant Japan's Suzuki was dismissed midway through the second half, but countryman Gotō spared his blushes with a first Bundesliga goal. The substitute netted with a powerful header on 85 minutes.
Cologne's Saïd El Mala earlier scored a sublime clincher as new Borussia Mönchengladbach coach Alexander Blessin saw the Bundesliga's bottom side lose 2-1 - their fifth loss in five games so far this season.
Fireworks and flares were thrown by fans towards the pitch and stands at times during the passionate Rhine Derby, causing a short second-half delay, but calm was restored.
US defender Joe Scally equalized for Gladbach late in the first half after Iceland's Ísak Jóhannesson had given the hosts the advantage.
But Germany winger El Mala cut in from the left-hand side in trademark style on 67 minutes and fired into the far corner from 20 metres. A video review for a foul in the build-up went the Billygoats' way.
Former St Pauli boss Blessin replaced Eugen Polanski during the international break after the Foals conceded 16 goals in their opening four defeats.
Now Gladbach remain the only side in the German top-flight on zero and are seven points behind mid-table rivals Cologne.
A possible serious injury to Cologne's Ellyes Skhiri was the only negative for the hosts.
Schalke's Adrian Gantenbein scores his side's first goal of the game during the German Bundesliga match between Freiburg and Schalke at Europa-Park Stadion (is associated with: «Freiburg beat Schalke to go top, Cologne win derby as fans misbehave») Tom Weller/dpaCologne's Said El Mala celebrates scoring his side's second goal of the game during the German Bundesliga match between Cologne and Borussia Mönchengladbach at RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne. (is associated with: «Freiburg beat Schalke to go top, Cologne win derby as fans misbehave») Federico Gambarini/dpa