Kaan Ayhan’s deflected free-kick in the 78th minute looked like it would be enough to settle a tight contest, but Chandler equalised with the last kick of the match – his second goal in three games – to earn Eintracht a point and maintain their unbeaten start to 2020.
After that, however, there was little action of note. Fortuna’s top scorer Rouwen Hennings had the only real opportunity in the 37th minute, but his volley from inside the area bounced harmlessly wide of Kevin Trapp’s goal and a cagey first half ended goalless.
That moment lifted Fortuna and the home crowd, but both teams continued to find it hard to fashion openings. With the game seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Düsseldorf broke the deadlock in fortunate fashion as Ayhan’s free-kick struck da Costa and deflected past Trapp. Eintracht left it late for a response and they looked like they’d missed their chance when Silva’s header was saved by Kastenmeier, but in the final minute of stoppage time, Chandler tucked in the equaliser after a well-worked free-kick and Silvas touch – although the Eagles had VAR to thank again as the goal was initially ruled out for offside.
Personnel: Three changes, Ilsanker on bench
Having used the same starting line-up in the opening two games of the year, head coach Adi Hütter made three changes, although two of them were enforced. Bas Dost and Mijat Gacinovic were absent due to illness and injury respectively, so Goncalo Paciencia and Daichi Kamada lined up in attack. The other change saw Danny da Costa replace Almamy Toure at right-back, while new signing Stefan Ilsanker was on the bench following his deadline-day move.First half: Two sides cancel each other out
With Düsseldorf playing their first match under new coach Uwe Rösler, the contest got off to an energetic start. Both sides had a chance each inside the first 10 minutes, Matthias Zimmermann firing narrowly over for the hosts and Chandler warming the gloves of Florian Kastenmeier at the other end.After that, however, there was little action of note. Fortuna’s top scorer Rouwen Hennings had the only real opportunity in the 37th minute, but his volley from inside the area bounced harmlessly wide of Kevin Trapp’s goal and a cagey first half ended goalless.
Second half: Late drama
Hütter made a double substitution at half-time, with Ilsanker and Andre Silva coming on for Paciencia and Kamada, and the game immediately livened up at the start of the second period. Straight from the kick-off, Chandler set up Djibril Sow, whose low shot was too close to Kastenmeier. The hosts then thought they’d taken the lead through Nana Ampomah, but the goal was disallowed for offside by the video assistant.That moment lifted Fortuna and the home crowd, but both teams continued to find it hard to fashion openings. With the game seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Düsseldorf broke the deadlock in fortunate fashion as Ayhan’s free-kick struck da Costa and deflected past Trapp. Eintracht left it late for a response and they looked like they’d missed their chance when Silva’s header was saved by Kastenmeier, but in the final minute of stoppage time, Chandler tucked in the equaliser after a well-worked free-kick and Silvas touch – although the Eagles had VAR to thank again as the goal was initially ruled out for offside.
