Eagles earn first home win since restart

The Eagles were dominant for the first hour at the Commerzbank-Arena and were worthy of their two-goal lead which came courtesy of André Silva and David Abraham. But Weston McKennie’s 60th-minute goal changed the game and both sides had chances to score in the final half-hour of the contest.

Personnel: Ton up for Rode

Adi Hütter’s line-up showed three changes from Saturday’s 4-1 win at Hertha BSC. Stefan Ilsanker and Sebastian Rode – back from suspension to make his 100th Bundesliga appearance for Eintracht – replaced Lucas Torró and Djibril Sow in midfield, while in-form Silva was recalled up front in place of Bas Dost.

First half: Deserved lead for Eagles

Despite guaranteeing safety at the weekend, Eintracht showed they weren’t taking their foot off the gas and dominated the first half from the off. Daichi Kamada went close twice in the opening 20 minutes, firing wide after dancing into the box and then stinging the fingertips of Schalke keeper Alexander Nübel.

It was the Japanese attacker who then assisted the opener on the counter just short of the half-hour mark when he played in Silva, who coolly stroked the ball past Nübel for his seventh goal in eight games since the restart. The lively Kamada then went close again in the 40th minute when his shot was deflected just wide, but the Eagles had to settle for a one-goal lead at the break.

Second half: Abraham’s head decides it

Hütter’s men made the perfect start to the second period, doubling their advantage after just five minutes. Filip Kostic whipped in a quick free-kick from wide of the penalty area and Abraham met it at the far post with an equally powerful header. Schalke, who had barely troubled Kevin Trapp up to this point, then got themselves back in the game out of the blue as McKennie headed in from a free-kick. That goal gave the Royal Blues renewed confidence but it was Eintracht who had the next big opportunity, Kamada firing over from close range after being teed up by Danny da Costa.

Abraham then made a vital contribution at the other end, blocking Michael Gregoritsch’s stinging volley on the line. The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute when Can Bozdogan was shown his second yellow card for a foul on Makoto Hasebe, and Eintracht almost took advantage immediately but Silva missed the target after being played through by Kostic. The closing stages were nervy as Schalke pushed for an equaliser, but the Eagles held on to claim their first home league win since the Bundesliga restart.

Summary: Deserved win despite shaky ending

Hütter’s side were excellent for an hour but McKennie’s goal made it a more tense final 30 minutes, during which the Eagles could have restored their two-goal lead just as easily as they could have conceded an equaliser. Ultimately though, the three points were deserved as Eintracht climbed into the top half of the table.

SGE line-up

Trapp - Abraham, Hasebe, Ndicka - Da Costa (Chandler 81’), Kohr (Sow 69’), Ilsanker (Hinteregger 69’), Rode (Gacinovic 77’), Kostic - Kamada – Silva (Dost 81’)

Goals

1-0 Silva (28’)
2-0 Abraham (50’)
2-1 McKennie (59’)