Dost and Silva fire Eintracht to success in Berlin
SGE had never lost at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei, and second-half goals from Bas Dost and Andre Silva on Friday ensured that unbeaten record would be maintained.
Personnel: Two in, two out
Head coach Adi Hütter made two adjustments to the team that fought back to earn a merited point versus Borussia Dortmund on Sunday, bringing in Daichi Kamada and Dost – for his first Bundesliga start at Eintracht – for Dominik Kohr and Goncalo Paciencia, who both dropped to the bench. David Abraham and Danny da Costa missed out through injury.
First half: Nip and tuck
Union started well, forcing Kevin Trapp into a couple of useful saves in the opening quarter of an hour. The visitors initially struggled to adjust to the pace and intensity of the game, but they gradually began to see more of the ball and create some half-chances for Silva and Filip Kostic, whose general movement was particularly impressive. In the 43rd minute, Silva came closest to breaking the deadlock, but his redirected header was well saved by Rafal Gikiewicz. As a lively first half, during which clear-cut opportunities had conversely been at a premium, drew to a close, Kostic fired in a long-range effort, but the ball flew well wide.
Second half: Eagles take control
Eintracht stepped things up a gear in the second period, and made the breakthrough in the 48th minute, when Gikiewicz could only parry Kostic’s powerful drive, and Dost pounced on the rebound. Rather than rest on their laurels, the Eagles went on the hunt for a second goal, which they duly acquired 14 minutes later, Silva getting on the end of an inch-perfect Djibril Sow cross to dispatch a firm header into the net, which momentarily quietened the noisy home support and sent the travelling fans into raptures.
Union were still posing a threat on the break, and Trapp had to pull off a brilliant save from Sheraldo Becker in the 75th minute to keep them at bay. Six minutes later, however, they did get on the scoresheet, Anthony Ujah smashing the ball home first-time to give his side a lifeline. There then followed a frenzied closing passage of play, as Urs Fischer’s men pushed for an equaliser, but the Eintracht rearguard held firm.
Summary: Hard-fought victory
After a tight first half, Eintracht took hold of the match by the scruff of the neck in the second period, and deservedly secured all three points, despite a late flurry from the home outfit. While Hütter will doubtless be pleased with his team clinching their first away win of the season, he will likely take greater satisfaction at the manner of the determined performance, particularly in the second half, against a tough-tackling outfit who had recently beaten a strong Dortmund side.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Toure, Hasebe (c), Hinteregger – Durm (Chandler 77’), Sow, Fernandes, Kostic – Kamada (Kohr 71') – Silva, Dost (Paciencia 83’)
Goals
0-1 Dost (48’)
0-2 Silva (63’)
1-2 Ujah (86’)