A big step forward for Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurter against Union Berlin / Ndicka scores 2-1 in stoppage time
With a strong performance in the 2-1 (1-0) against Union Berlin, Eintracht Frankfurt achieved an important success in the Bundesliga. The winning goal by Evan Ndicka field once again very late in stoppage time.
Frankfurt – It’s done: Frankfurter Eintracht has wrapped up the first home win of the season in the Bundesliga. And it was again a “last minute victory”, this time a very special one because it was well deserved. In front of 24,000 spectators, Eintracht was the better team in the 2-1 (1-0) against FC Union Berlin, but had missed half a dozen best chances.
But then came the last minute of five-minute stoppage time. Filip Kostic crossed and Evan Ndicka headed the ball in. Djibril Sow and Max Kruse had previously scored with a penalty. “Compliments to my players,” said coach Oliver Glasner, “if you are willing to invest a lot, you get a lot back.” For Frankfurt it was the victory in the league in a row.
In the third game of the English Week, Glasner had trusted the same first team. Defense chief Martin Hinteregger, who reported back after a bruised foot, sat on the bench and stayed there until the end. Erik Durm and Sam Lammers did not make it into the squad. The game proved Glasner right on all counts. The Eintracht showed a strong performance, had the Berliners totally under control. “They were superior to us in all respects,” admitted Union trainer Urs Fischer.
Playful and combative everything fit with the hosts. The only, but serious drawback: You scored too few goals. Even at break it could be three or four or five, it must be. Above all, Kristijan Jakic and Rafael Borré awarded so-called “one hundred percent”. The Frankfurt game went like clockwork, driven by the once again outstanding Makoto Hasebe. “He’s doing a great job,” praised the trainer. “Makoto is an extremely intelligent player,” said sports director Markus Krösche, “he has been a key to our game for weeks.” The 37-year-old Libero was the playmaker, supported by all the cameras. The Frankfurters were safe on the ball, conjured up beautiful combinations on the lawn.
But they only met once on six or seven clear occasions. After a corner from Jesper Lindström, the ball came through Filip Kostic to Djibril Sow. The Swiss international hit the corner from the back area. A great goal to make it 1-0 in the 22nd minute. “We already played well against Antwerp one half, also in Freiburg, but today for almost the entire 90 minutes,” said goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who barely had anything to stop him, “we did very, very well today.”
And that in all parts of the team. The defense was safe for long stretches, with one exception. In the 62nd minute, the Berliners came more than happy to equalize. Ndicka had brought down Awoniyi in the penalty area, referee Stegemann immediately called a penalty. The VAR checked whether the ball had previously been in touch when the cross was passed, but although the TV images suggested it, it remained at the penalty kick. Max Kruse didn’t let the chance slip by. The ball didn’t run as smoothly any more, but the Frankfurt team continued to be the better team.
But for a long time it looked as if it shouldn’t work this time. Eintracht not only had bad luck in the end, but also bad luck that referee Stegemann usually decided against them when in doubt. So in the 84th minute, when Knoche prevented a hit in the penalty area in a wrestling match with Paciencia. The VAR checked again, but there was not a possible penalty. After all, Stegemann punished the permanent time game of the Berliners, who wanted to save themselves with one point, with five minutes of stoppage time. And then the unity actually used to die. For the fifth time in the last six games, the Hessians had forced another goal in stoppage time. “What sets us apart is that we never give up. In the end it was deserved. Madness, ”said Glasner. and gave an extra praise to match winner Ndicka: “He had a head-ball like Michael Jordan at his best times.”
“They are nerve-wracking games. The boys reward themselves with last-minute goals, they have that kind of in them, “said sports director Markus Krösche,” we have recently made big steps forward. “And not only in the table.
From Peppi Schmitt