Six of the seven goals came in a thrilling first half, with Andre Silva (2’, 41’), Filip Kostic (39’) and an unusual own goal by Robert Andrich (35’) setting Eintracht on course for victory. Timothy Chandler then completed the scoring at the end of a quieter second period.
Two enforced changes
Suspensions – Tuta and Amin Younes were both serving one-match bans – again forced head coach Adi Hütter to shuffle his pack. Aymen Barkok and Luka Jovic came into the side, meaning Makoto Hasebe moved back into the back three as Martin Hinteregger again missed out due to injury.
Frantic first half
Like the previous meeting between the two sides, the game got off to a fast start, but this time it was Eintracht who took an early lead. Seconds after Kevin Trapp made a smart save from a corner, the Eagles broke forward and Kostic rolled the ball perfectly into the path of Silva, who just had to tap it in from close range for his 20th goal of the campaign. The lead did not last long, though, as Union equalised in controversial fashion in the seventh minute through Kruse, after an apparent foul on Hasebe in the build-up.
Eintracht responded well and had most of the play after that, with Jovic twice firing wide from half-chances, although the visitors were a threat from set pieces and went close through Joel Pohjanpalo and Nico Schlotterbeck. The Eagles were then gifted their lead back as Andrich’s attempted back-pass to goalkeeper Andreas Luthe ended up in the back of his own net. The next goal was all Eintracht’s doing, though, as Daichi Kamada initiated a counter-attack and released Kostic, who exchanged passes with Silva before firing home.
The action did not end there, and Silva bagged his second of the afternoon in the 41st minute after another flowing Frankfurt attack. Union did manage to give themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half-time, though, with Kruse heading in from Marvin Friedrich’s cross to complete an incredible first half.
Job done
Thankfully for Eintracht, the second half was a quieter affair. It was not until the hour mark that the first notable opportunities arrived, with Kamada dragging a shot just wide after some nifty footwork in the box and then Pohjanpalo’s shot being blocked by the feet of Trapp at the other end.
Union continued to search for a way back into the game and Andrich almost redeemed himself when he struck the bar late on, but the Eagles stood firm and even scored a fifth in stoppage time after a mix-up in the Union box, with substitutes Steven Zuber and Chandler combining to round off a memorable triumph.
Summary: Huge win.
After an eventful first half, in which Eintracht once again demonstrated their explosiveness in attack, the hosts did what they needed to do in the second half to keep hold of a vital three points which leave them four points clear in fourth place going into the international break.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Ilsanker, Hasebe, Ndicka – Barkok (Chandler 77’), Sow, Rode, Kostic – Kamada (Hrustic 90’+1) – Silva (Ache 77’), Jovic (Zuber 77’)
Goals
1-0 Silva (2’)
1-1 Kruse (7’)
2-1 Andrich o.g. (35’)
3-1 Kostic (39’)
4-1 Silva (41’)
4-2 Kruse (45’+3)
5-2 Chandler (90’+2)
