Goalkeeper Jens Grahl made his Eintracht debut against the fourth-tier side after joining the Eagles from VfB Stuttgart on Monday. Teenagers Felix Irorere, Fynn Otto and Dario Gabuhr formed the back three, while Amin Younes returned to the starting XI after missing the friendlies against Wehen Wiesbaden and SV Sandhausen with a hip complaint.
Three goals in entertaining opening
Eintracht were in front inside the first minute as Paciencia broke free down the left before teeing up Akman, who was left with the simple task of tapping home the opening goal. It was 2-0 six minutes later, Paciencia finishing coolly from Timothy Chandler’s cross following fine build-up play by Rodrigo Zalazar.
Gießen halved the deficit moments later when Louis Münn lashed an attempted Eintracht clearance past Grahl from the edge of the penalty area, but Oliver Glasner’s side remained in complete control and went close to restoring their two-goal lead when Paciencia dragged a shot wide. The striker was replaced by Dejan Joveljic just beyond the half-hour mark after appearing to hurt his thigh.
Eintracht run riot
Glasner made 11 changes at the interval, with Kamada, Kostic, Lindström and Fabio Blanco all given a run-out. The two summer signings combined to make it 3-1, the Dane collecting Blanco’s deep cross before burying a low shot into the far corner.
Barkok crashed Kamada’s delivery off the crossbar soon afterwards, but the Japan international prodded home Eintracht’s fourth from point-blank range before Kostic found the top corner with a fierce strike from the corner of the six-yard area. Barkok completed the scoring with five minutes remaining, rounding the keeper and stroking into the unguarded net from Lindström’s pass.
Head coach Oliver Glasner: “I’m very pleased, although we didn’t carry quite enough threat in front of goal. It’s no coincidence that almost all our attacking players scored, though. We were very versatile and apart from 10 minutes after half-time we were solid in defence. For me, it’s important that our attackers show their creativity and transition quickly when we lose the ball going forward.”
Goals
1-0 Akman (1’)
2-0 Paciencia (7’)
2-1 Münn (9’)
3-1 Lindström (63’)
4-1 Kamada (77’)
5-1 Kostic (79’)
6-1 Barkok (86’)
