24th matchday
Place mistake and Nkounkou: Frankfurt’s winless streak ends
Eintracht Frankfurt benefited from a curious own goal by the hosts during their away game in Heidenheim. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Eintracht can still win: After six unsuccessful attempts, the Frankfurters win another competitive game. The grass also helped in the 2-1 win in Heidenheim.
The Hessians won 2-1 (1-0) in the Bundesliga against newcomers 1. FC Heidenheim and, thanks to their first three-pointer since the end of January, underlined their European Cup ambitions. When they took the strange lead after an own goal from Benedikt Gimber, Frankfurt benefited from a mistake (39th minute). After the break, Niels Nkounkou increased (49′) before substitute Marvin Pieringer reduced the deficit for FCH after just under an hour.
Frankfurt consolidates sixth place with victory
In a game that was largely low-level and characterized by bad passes, the weakened newcomer had more control and better opportunities in front of 15,000 spectators. After the exit from the Conference League and Sasa Kalajdzic’s serious knee injury, Eintracht had luck on their side this time and consolidated sixth place. After their second home defeat in a row, Heidenheim remains in the middle of the table.
After six minutes, the advanced Patrick Mainka missed the first opportunity for the home team, who had to do without their best scorer Jan-Niklas Beste due to injury. US international Lennard Maloney was also unavailable for the first time this season. Nevertheless, the Heidenheimers did well.
The Frankfurt team ventured forward for the first time after 20 minutes when Nkounkou threatened to score with an unsuccessful cross. Kevin Müller held on to the ball in the second attempt and a little later Omar Marmoush couldn’t find his teammate Fares Chaibi.
The guests benefit from a curious goal
Because hardly anything worked out of the structured game, a bizarre scene was needed: Gimber unchallenged played a back pass towards goalkeeper Müller. However, the ball bounced right in front of the Heidenheim keeper and bounced over his foot into the goal – a flattering break. However, Eintracht’s defense, which had recently been heavily criticized and had conceded twelve goals in the last six games, hardly allowed anything to happen.
And after the break, Eintracht made things clear. Nkounkou made it 2-0 with his first real shot on goal. Schmidt reacted and brought new forces into play. After Pieringer’s goal, hope arose again. Ultimately, however, nothing changed as Heidenheim also lost out in the third duel with Eintracht.
Rather, the unlucky Müller prevented a higher defeat with a triple save against Marmoush and Ansgar Knauff (70th). Jan Schöppner missed the best chance to equalize with a header after a corner (80th) and Trapp had to intervene twice in stoppage time.