Moenchengladbach beats Stuttgart 2-0 in Bundesliga

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Borussia Moenchengladbach won 2-0 at Stuttgart on Friday for its fourth straight Bundesliga victory.

Goals by Raffael and Oscar Wendt either side of halftime allowed Moenchengladbach to strengthen its grip on fourth place.

"We controlled the game 70 percent. We deserved to win," Moenchengladbach coach Lucien Favre said. "But we had to score the second and we should have done it earlier."

Stuttgart is eighth but could drop significantly by the time the weekend is over.

Moenchengladbach was in control from the start, except for an early chance for Stuttgart's Vedad Ibisevic.

Raffael scored in the 37th, picking up a good pass from Patrick Herrmann and slotting home despite being surrounded by three Stuttgart players. The visiting team intercepted a bad pass in midfield and quickly moved the ball forward before Hermann fed Raffael.

Wendt secured the win in 73rd, controlling another pass from Herrmann and driving in a perfectly timed left-foot shot from the edge of the box.

In between, Moenchengladbach squandered several chances, while Stuttgart hardly threatened.

"They were the more effective team and we did not defend well on the goals," Stuttgart captain Christian Gentner said.