SGE visited Fulda in east Hesse for their third friendly as part of the ‘Eintracht in the Region’ campaign. Their opponents were SG Barockstadt Fulda-Lehnerz, a 2018 merger of local clubs TSV Lehnerz and Borussia Fulda.
Hosts more efficient
Just under 5,000 spectators were in attendance at the Stadion der Stadt Fulda and they witnessed a lively start. Eintracht had two early opportunities to take the lead through Timothy Chandler and Faride Alidou, but it was Barockstadt who opened the scoring with their first attack after seven minutes, Moritz Reinhard heading past Diant Ramaj.
That was the last action for a while as the Eagles struggled to create openings against a Barockstadt side who sat deep and waited for opportunities on the counter. And it was from one of them that they made it 2-0, Gal Grobelnik providing the finish this time. Paxten Aaronson, Junior Dina Ebimbe and Alidou all had chances for Eintracht in the latter stages of the first half, but again the hosts proved to be more clinical and Grobelnik netted his second and the team’s third shortly before half-time.
Much-improved performance from much-changed team
An almost completely new Eintracht XI came out with more intent and energy at the start of the second period and pulled a goal back just a few minutes after the restart, Jens Petter Hauge converting the rebound after Jessic Ngankam’s penalty was saved. At the other end, Jens Grahl produced a brilliant save to prevent Fulda scoring from a two-on-one situation.
The home side continued to keep Frankfurt at bay until the 68th minute, when Igor Matanovic nodded in after ex-Eintracht goalkeeper Jannik Horz could only parry a curling cross. The big striker then came close to netting a brace but he dragged his shot wide after being set up by fresh substitute Rafael Borré. In the closing stages, Jesper Lindström had the best chance to equalise but headed just over from Ngankam’s cross, and Barockstadt clung on for the win. Next up for Eintracht is the training camp in Windischgarsten from Sunday.
Timothy Chandler said after the match: "We had a few good chances but didn't take them. We still have a lot of improving to do. We can't concede three goals from three crosses. We did better in the second half and scored two goals. You can't read too much into it yet. We'll see where we're at after the training camp."
Line-up First half
Diant Ramaj - Kristijan Jakic, Tuta, Makoto Hasebe, Philipp Max - Sebastian Rode, Éric Junior Dina Ebimbe - Timothy Chandler, Paxten Aaronson, Faride Alidou - Omar Marmoush.
Line-up Second half
Jens Grahl - Aurélio Buta, Kristijan Jakic (74' Rafael Santos Borré), Willian Pacho, Christopher Lenz - Ellyes Skhiri, Hugo Larsson - Jessic Ngankam, Jens Petter Hauge, Jesper Lindström - Igor Matanovic.
Goals
1-0 Reinhard (7')
2-0 Grobelnik (28')
3-0 Grobelnik (39')
3-1 Hauge (48')
3-2 Matanovic (67')
