'Gladbach routs Hertha 5-0 to reclaim 4th in Bundesliga

BERLIN (AP) - Thorgan Hazard scored twice as Borussia Moenchengladbach routed Hertha Berlin 5-0 in the Bundesliga on Sunday to boost its chances of Champions League football next season.

Hazard opened the scoring in the 14th minute following a mistake by Hertha goalkeeper Rune Jarstein, who had plenty of time and space but sent his kick straight to Mahmoud Dahoud, who quickly played Hazard through.

'Gladbach remained the more dangerous side with Hertha hardly threatening in the first half.

Andre Hahn scored on the hour, firing into the top left corner to mark his first start since Oct. 25, when a brutal challenge from Schalke's Johannes Geis left him with a fractured shin bone and meniscus tear.

'Gladbach substitute Patrick Herrmann sealed it in the 76th, converting the rebound after Jarstein saved from Hazard, who scored again four minutes later with a deflected shot.

Ibrahima Traore completed the rout from a difficult angle in the 85th.

"It's the right result," Hertha coach Pal Dardai said of his side's heaviest defeat of the season. "It's good now and then to get such a trashing. It brings the guys down a bit. We don't need to flower it up at all. 'Gladbach were faster, better. It's a Champions League team."

'Gladbach moved three points behind Hertha into fourth place, ahead of Bayer Leverkusen on goal difference with six games remaining.

Hertha's defeat ensured Borussia Dortmund is assured of at least second place. Dortmund trails Bayern Munich by five points.

Kevin Volland scored in injury time to salvage a 1-1 draw for relegation-troubled Hoffenheim against Cologne in Sunday's late game.

Germany defender Jonas Hector crossed for Simon Zoller to put Cologne ahead in the 69th minute but Volland stretched to reach the rebound and score from a difficult angle after Timo Horn parried Andrej Kramaric's initial effort in the 91st.

Hoffenheim moved one point above the relegation zone while Augsburg dropped into the relegation playoff place, ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt on goal difference.

Also Sunday, last-place Hannover fired Thomas Schaaf as coach in a bid for survival.

As Hannover was 11 points from safety with six games remaining, sporting director Martin Bader said the club knew that survival was "only very theoretically possible."