In-form striker Mohamed Zidan scored twice and created a goal to lead Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 home victory over Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The Egyptian international, who scored in the Pharaohs’ 3-1 friendly defeat to England in midweek, produced a match-winning performance to give Dortmund their third win in their last four games.
He took his tally to five league goals this season, six behind Dortmund’s top scorer Lucas Barrios of Argentina.
Dortmund are fifth in the table on 42 points, one behind fourth-placed Hamburg.
Jurgen Klopp’s side should at least be able to finish fourth to play in the Europa League next season.
Zidan was Dortmund’s liveliest performer throughout the game, with his tenacity and pace causing Monchengladbach all sorts of problems.
He needed 13 minutes to help Dortmund grab the lead when he outpaced his challenger down the left flank before providing a low cross for Kevin Grosskreutz to tap in into an empty net after the ball eluded keeper Logan Bailly.
Zidan’s first shot on target came two minutes before the break but Belgian guardian Bailly was alert enough to block it.
The 28-year-old continued to unsettle Monchengladbach’s defense and managed to double the hosts’ lead in the 54th minute with a superb strike, reminiscent of the goal he scored in Egypt’s 4-0 victory over Algeria in the Nations Cup semi final.
He rounded a defender on the edge of the area before firing an unstoppable left-footed shot that left Bailly with no chance.
Zidan wrapped up Dortmund’s victory on 70 minutes with a clinical finish after latching onto a defense-splitting pass from Barrios.
