14.02.2012
News-Archive

Fortune favours Düsseldorf in second-tier showdown

Fortuna Düsseldorf returned to the Bundesliga 2 summit on Monday evening thanks to a contentious 1-1 draw at home to promotion rivals Eintracht Frankfurt.

With top spot in the division at stake, both sides laboured in their early attempts but ultimately delivered an exciting, passionate affair which looked to be the away side's for the taking until the final minute. Benjamin Köhler had given Eintracht the lead midway through the second period but just as the relegated outfit looked to have held on for the win, Düsseldorf were awarded a disputable penalty which Jens Langeneke converted to split the spoils.

Great atmosphere

Spurred on by a bumper crowd at the impressive Esprit-Arena, Düsseldorf began positively with plenty of possession in their opponents' third of the field, though it was Frankfurt who provided the game's first meaningful attack with five minutes gone. Erwin Hoffer made good ground on the left and picked out Alex Meier in the centre, but the powerful forward failed to spot Karim Matmour hurtling into space on his right and sent a tame effort goalwards.

Considering the pre-match hype, the two promotion contenders struggled provide the thrilling encounter fans had been hoping for subsequently. Düsseldorf did their best to find joy on the flanks, Eintracht through the middle, but neither conjured the necessary creativity and increasingly it seemed as though the first mistake from either would usher in a much-needed goal.

Chilly evening hots up

The visitors eventually threatened once more with just over half an hour gone when Matthias Lehmann crossed dangerously, but Meier seemed to hesitate in his efforts to connect with the header and the loose ball bounced beyond Matmour. A double chance followed at the other end as things started to hot up towards the first half's conclusion, Sascha Rösler first seeing his distance effort saved before Maximilian Beister collected Sascha Dum's low cross and fired straight at the Frankfurt keeper.

With both teams unchanged for the second period the game's next opportunity was not long in coming. A searching cross from Köhler found its way through to Matmour at the far post, but the Frankfurt forward was unable to direct his cushioned finish downwards, enabling Michael Ratajczak to make the save.

Köhler breaks the deadlock

Düsseldorf again responded with Polish international Adam Matuschyk testing Nikolov with a sweet half-volley and Beister denied after bundling through, but the hosts were left dumbfounded as Frankfurt finally broke the deadlock on 69 minutes. Meier's pass made the goal, intersecting the Fortuna defence and finding Köhler, who, in space, made no mistake with a quick touch and finish into the corner.

The home side twice came close to an equaliser as Thomas Bröker fired via the legs of Gordon Schildenfeld onto the post and Oliver Fink had his header from the resulting corner cleared off the line by Sebastian Rode, but with time running out, all hopes of a point seemed to have been lost.

Langeneke spot on again

That was, at least, until the final minute, when Beister fell under the challenge of Anderson in the Frankfurt box. Referee Dr. Felix Brych turned to his assistant for help. He said penalty, and who else but Langeneke, who had already scored eight penalties from as many this season, to step up and bury the equaliser for Fortuna? Rösler was dismissed in injury time for some unnecessary afters with Eintracht boss Armin Veh, but that will vex the home side little as they return to the top of the table at the expense of their rivals.