Nurnberg's relegation fears intensified as Borussia Monchengladbach posted a workmanlike Bundesliga victory.
Roberto Colautti fired the hosts in front shortly before the half-hour at Borussia-Park but second-bottom Nurnberg levelled two minutes after the restart through Albert Bunjaku.
Monchengladbach rallied in search of the winner which arrived when substitute Rob Friend slotted home just a minute after entering the action in the 73rd minute.
The loss leaves Nurnberg three points from safety at the foot of the standings having played one game more than their rivals, while Gladbach are 11th, 11 points clear of danger and now with one eye on a late push for a European berth.
The hosts started brightly, bossing the opening exchanges and going close to breaking the deadlock after 10 minutes when Colautti played in Raul Bobadilla but the forward mis-hit his effort.
Bobadilla had another chance after 26 minutes after a great run by Roel Brouwers but again was wayward with his shot.
Gladbach surged ahead after 27 minutes when Michael Bradley's long pass tested the pace of Marco Reus, who beat Raphael Schafer to the ball before cutting back for Colautti to sweep home.
Having offered little by way of attacking threat in the opening 45, Nurnberg stunned their opponents two minutes after the break when a lack of concentration in the home defence allowed a weak free-kick to break in the area for Bunjaku, who fired home.
That was as good as it got for Nurnberg, however, and there was only going to be one winner once the hosts had recovered their composure after being pegged back.
Schafer did well to keep his side the the match with a couple of decent saves, but the Nurnberg goalkeeper was culpable for the hosts' winner after 74 minutes as Friend smuggled the ball over the line from close range after Schafer failed to make a decent connection on an attempted punch.
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