Kalou fires Hertha to 3-0 win over 'Gladbach in Bundesliga

BERLIN (AP) - Borussia Moenchengladbach endured a night to forget in the Bundesliga on Friday, slumping to a 3-0 defeat as Salomon Kalou scored a hat trick for Hertha Berlin.

'Gladbach forward Patrick Herrmann suffered what looked like another serious injury between Kalou's first-half goals for the home side, and there was still time before the break for midfielder Christoph Kramer to be sent off for his second yellow card.

Kalou's first goals of the season fired Hertha to third before the rest of the 10th round, three points behind leader Bayern Munich, while 'Gladbach remained in the bottom half of the table after its fifth straight league game without a win.

Kalou opened the scoring sending the ball inside the far post with a diving header to Mitchell Weiser's perfectly lofted cross.

Herrmann, who tore a cruciate ligament in his knee last year and tore an adductor muscle after making his comeback, had to be helped off the pitch half an hour in after Vedad Ibisevic fell awkwardly on his standing leg.

"He said something broke. He's getting an x-ray. Maybe the ankle's broken. I don't know," sporting director Max Eberl said.

While the visitors were down to 10 men, Kalou grabbed his second. Nico Elvedi's attempted clearance came back off fellow defender Jannik Vestergaard and Kalou pounced on the rebound to flick it past Yann Sommer with his right boot.

Kramer was sent off six minutes later for a tactical foul, his second of the game.

'Gladbach improved after the break and Fabian Johnson had a couple of chances as Hertha shifted down a gear. There were some whistles from home supporters who wanted more in the way of entertainment.

Hertha 'keeper Rene Jarstein was forced to save from Lars Stindl before Kalou completed his hat trick late, again set up by the impressive Weiser.

Of his side's cautious second half, Hertha coach Pal Dardai said: "I'm sorry for the fans but it's a great result."