In the Eagles’ first game since the passing of Grabowski, Sebastian Polter’s header gave Bochum a narrow lead at the interval. The Eagles equalised less than 60 seconds into the second half when Masovic diverted Jesper Lindström’s effort into his own net, before Kamada’s third Bundesliga goal of the season completed the turnaround and sealed Eintracht’s first home win of the calendar year.
Eagles unchanged
Oliver Glasner fielded the same 11 players that started Wednesday’s UEFA Europa League last-16 first-leg victory at Real Betis. Sebastian Rode (abdominal injury), Danny da Costa (pubic bone) and Ragnar Ache (muscle) were the Eagles’ only absentees on Matchday 26.
Visitors strike first
Fans and players paid tribute to the late, great ‘Grabi’ ahead of kick-off, with Eagles supporters holding up their black and white scarves as a highlight reel of Grabowski’s best moments in Eintracht colours was shown on the stadium’s video cube. The game was also preceded by a minute’s silence, which was impeccably observed by both sets of fans.
When the action got under way, it was Glasner’s side who made the brighter start. Kamada fired narrowly wide from Rafael Borré’s right-wing cross, but Bochum opened the scoring against the run of play when Polter shrugged off Martin Hinteregger’s challenge to head home Kostas Stafylidis’ free-kick. Kevin Trapp produced a superb save to prevent Takuma Asano from doubling the visitors’ advantage not long afterwards.
Remarkable response
However, Glasner’s side flew out of the traps in the second half and turned the game on its head within seven minutes of the restart. Lindström’s shot was inadvertently deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Masovic, before the Dane’s flick-on from Ansgar Knauff’s cross was guided home by Kamada to put the Eagles ahead for the first time in the match.
Knauff was a constant threat down the right-hand side in the second half and almost set up Borré for Eintracht’s third, but the Colombian took a split second too long and Bochum were able to clear their lines. The visitors almost salvaged a draw late on, but Trapp produced a fine double save to first deny Polter, then stop Christopher Antwi-Adjei from tucking home the rebound.
Morale-boosting win
Eintracht were in danger of suffering a fifth consecutive home defeat after Polter’s first-half header, but the Eagles did magnificently to raise their game in the second half and fully deserved the victory in the end. Grabi would have been proud.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Knauff, Jakic (Hrustic 87’), Sow, Kostic (Hauge 80’) – Lindström (Lenz 72’), Kamada – Borré (Paciencia 87’)
Goals
Polter (19’)
Masovic OG (46’)
2-1 Kamada (52’)
