25.09.2021
Bundesliga

Hard-fought draw against Köln

A bruising contest between Eintracht and Köln finished 1-1, with Ellyes Skhiri and Rafael Borré scoring the goals in the first half.

Eintracht boss Oliver Glasner made two changes from the side that started in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Wolfsburg. Timothy Chandler was handed a first start of the season, replacing Danny da Costa at full-back, while Jens Petter Hauge was recalled in attack at the expense of Daichi Kamada. There was also a tactical alteration, with Borré moving up front to form a classic front two with Sam Lammers.

Injury-disrupted first half

With 24,000 fans in attendance on a sunny afternoon in Frankfurt, it was the in-form visitors who made the better start. Eintracht were not helped by a head to injury to Erik Durm, which led to him being replaced by da Costa (11’), and Köln took full advantage of the disorganisation in the Eagles’ defence to take the lead. After a corner was cleared, Benno Schmitz crossed the ball back into penalty area, where Jonas Hector played it first-time onto Skhiri, who bundled it in.

After that, the contest became very stop-start, with several interruptions because of injuries – and in particular head injuries – making it difficult for Eintracht to find any rhythm. However, those stoppages also meant that eight minutes were added on at the end of the first half, and it was during this period that Glasner’s men levelled. After no one could get on the end of two good openings for the visitors, the Eagles countered with Filip Kostic supplying Borré, who slotted in his first goal for the club just before the half-time whistle eventually blew.

No inch given

Frankfurt took that momentum into the second half, Kostic testing Köln goalkeeper Timo Horn early on with a long-range shot. There was then another key moment in the game in the 54th minute, when the Billy Goats appeared to have regained the lead. Kevin Trapp spilled a shot and brought down Anthony Modeste as he attempted to reach the rebound, but the referee played advantage as the ball ran through to Florian Kainz. He knocked the ball into the empty net, but the goal was then disallowed by the video assistant as Modeste was marginally offside.

After that let-off, Glasner made a double substitution just after the hour mark, bringing on Kamada and Jesper Lindström, and the pair combined immediately with the former heading just over from the latter’s cross. That signalled the start of a period of pressure for the Eagles, although the only clear chance fell to Martin Hinteregger from one of a number of corners, with the Austrian’s volley being well saved by Horn.

There was no let-up in intensity from either side in the closing stages, but neither could find a winner and had to settle for a point apiece.

Summary: Hard-earned point

A fifth consecutive 1-1 draw in all competitions extends Eintracht’s unbeaten run at home to 22 games. A share of the spoils was probably a fair outcome and an encounter in which both teams demonstrated total commitment but didn’t produce many clear-cut opportunities.

SGE line-up

Trapp – Durm (da Costa 11’), Ndicka, Hinteregger, Chandler – Hauge (Lindström 61’), Sow (Ilsanker 85’), Jakic, Kostic – Lammers (Kamada 61’), Borré

Goals

0-1 Skhiri (14’)
1-1 Borré (45+6’)