Thorough test

With Eintracht’s internationals only returning for pre-season on Monday, the first half line-up consisted of players who also featured in the first friendly against FSV Braunfels on Saturday. Summer signings Robin Koch and Ellyes Skhiri were included in the starting XI.

Entertaining end to half

The fourth-tier hosts proved to be a match for Eintracht from the start, pressing well and even threatening themselves a couple of times. After 30 minutes without any real opportunities, the contest then suddenly burst into life. Arif Güclu stung the gloves of Diant Ramaj from inside the area, before Christopher Lenz’s low shot was saved by Steinbach goalkeeper David Nreca-Bisinger. It didn’t take much longer for the deadlock to be broken, though, as Serkan First found the far corner from a pull-back.

The goal jolted Eintracht into action and they levelled just three minutes later, with Igor Matanovic’s low finish squeezing through the legs of Nreca-Bisinger. Both teams had a chance each to take the lead before half-time, Ramaj making a superb save from Henri Weigelt’s header and then Hauge running free on the counter but stumbling as he attempted to beat Nreca-Bisinger.

Impressive hosts rewarded

Head coach Dino Toppmöller made eight changes at the interval, with only Matanovic, Hauge and youngster Elias Baum remaining on the pitch. The trio were later replaced by Ragnar Ache, Marcel Wenig and Dario Gebuhr. The Eagles had the majority of the possession in the second period and produced one delightful attack in the 56th minute, when Hauge ran along the edge of the area and played a perfect pass into the path of Hugo Larsson, who took a brilliant first touch with the backheel only to be denied by a smart reaction save from Kevin Ibrahim. 

After that there was little in the way of goalmouth action until the 73rd minute, when Gianluca Korte turned in a cross with a fine volleyed finish. Ache and Wenig both had half-chances to equalise late on, but it finished 2-1. Nevertheless, Toppmöller and his coaching team will have gained some valuable insights at this early stage of pre-season.

Sebastian Rode said: "The defeat doesn't bother me. I've learned during my long career that results in pre-season are irrelevant. It's about implementing ideas on the pitch. The new coach demands a lot of us, gives a lot of input to think about. We have to process that first, and as well as that there's obviously a degree of physical fatigue too. There were certainly some things there today that were decent, but also some that weren't working yet. It's obvious that not everything's going to be clicking within one week. The internationals are now back, which cranks up the competition. The training camp will also be good for us as a team."