Silva broke the deadlock from the penalty spot with his 28th league goal of the season, only for Woo-Yeong Jeong to equalise 13 minutes later. Toure – making his comeback from injury – restored Eintracht’s lead from close range, before Ache’s sweetly struck volley completed the scoring in second-half stoppage time.
Bördner in goal
Teenage goalkeeper Elias Bördner was handed his Bundesliga debut in one of four changes to the team beaten at FC Schalke 04 last weekend. Ajdin Hrustic was also named in Eintracht’s starting XI for the first time, with Steven Zuber and Stefan Ilsanker replacing Tuta and Amin Younes in the side.
Opportunities at both ends
Silva, who last week broke the record for most Bundesliga goals in a single season by an Eagles player, came within the width of a post from giving Eintracht the lead inside two minutes, his powerful shot hitting the outside of the woodwork and bouncing clear. European hopefuls Freiburg were eager to test Bördner early on and almost broke the deadlock through Vincenzo Grifo, whose low effort whistled just wide of the far post.
Hrustic tested Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken’s reflexes with a fierce strike from Silva’s lay-off, but the chances began to dry up towards the end of the first half. Hrustic was denied again by Flekken two minutes before the interval, before Bördner thwarted Grifo at the second attempt in first-half stoppage time.
Eagles leave it late
Eintracht had to survive a spell of Freiburg pressure at the beginning of the second half, but they took the lead 17 minutes after the restart when Silva slotted home from the spot after Janik Haberer was penalised for handball. Jeong capitalised on a failed Eintracht clearance to restore parity with a quarter of an hour remaining, but there was to be a late twist at the Deutsche Bank Park.
Toure, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes, converted Filip Kostic’s cross from close range to restore Eintracht’s slender advantage, before Ache – another late substitute – wrapped up the victory with a superb finish from another trademark Kostic delivery.
Summary: Bring on Europe!
Departing head coach Adi Hütter may have narrowly missed out on delivering Champions League football to Eintracht, but Eagles supporters can still look forward to what promises to be another exciting European adventure next season after an excellent 2020/21 campaign.
SGE line up
Bördner – Ilsanker, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Chandler (Ache 81’), Hrustic (Tuta 75’), Hasebe, Kostic (Durm 90+3’) – Kamada (Touré 81’), Zuber (Barkok 46’) – Silva
Goals
1-0 Silva (62’ pen.)
1-1 Jeong (65’)
2-1 Toure (87’)
3-1 Ache (90+2’)
