With just seven games to go, the Eagles look well-placed to hang on to one of two automatic promotion spots, the first of which is currently held by Fürth just a point above them. Goals from Mohamadou Idrissou, Erwin Hoffer and two from Alex Meier secured the victory for the visitors, who extend their winning streak to four games, ending Union's three-match unbeaten run in the process.
Tenacious start
Both sides got to work quickly at the Alte Försterei with plenty of hefty challenges flying in during the opening exchanges. One such left Eintracht defender Andersen laid low within the first minute and the Brazilian was taken off as a delayed result just half an hour later. By that time, however, the visitors had already established their lead thanks to Idrissou's (9') emphatic close-range finish after the Union defence had failed to deal with a low cross from the right.
Idrissou was denied a second minutes later as his header was cleared off the line, but the home side settled subsequently and soon forced a first save from Oka Nikolov, who fisted away a long-distance effort from Patrick Kohlmann moments later. Still, Frankfurt were clearly the side with the quality and ought to have doubled their advantage when Hoffer stole in to meet an Idrissou cross at the far post but cushioned his header over the bar.
Hoffer heads home
The first-half lost a certain amount of energy as the interval drew nearer, though Armin Veh's promotion hopefuls did manage to hit the post in stoppage time, Alex Meier controlling well to turn and fire against the upright from inside the box. The tempo spiked again after the restart and Patrick Zoundi was almost able to take advantage of an ill-judged foray by Frankfurt keeper Nikolov, but the Burkinabe winger was unable to pick out any takers after nicking the ball on the by-line.
It proved to be one of very few chances for the capital club, who found themselves two behind by the hour mark. Hoffer had already seen one fine effort from a tight angle clawed out by Jan Glinker before diving to head spectacularly past the Union keeper from Pirmin Schwegler's pinpoint diagonal ball with 57 minutes gone.
Meier makes it four
Union's subsequent attempts to pull one back resulted in various opportunities for Eintracht to counter and after Meier and Sebastian Jung had each gone close, the former (73') eventually made it three when he swept in right-footed from Idrissou's low centre. Zoundi crashed a header off the bar from Torsten Mattuschka's free-kick at the other end, but it would have been scant consolation even before Meier (89') added his 14th of the season and Frankfurt's fourth of the game late on following a silky run and pull-back from Rode.
