Eintracht Frankfurt prevail to pile the pressure on former boss
Eintracht Frankfurt have now lost just once in their last 10 competitive games, after they took advantage of a struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach side.
An entertaining encounter saw the visitors claim their fourth Bundesliga away win of the season, with goals from Florian Neuhaus, Jesper Lindstrøm and Daichi Kamada helping the Eagles to a 3-2 victory.
Although Adi Hütter may have been pleased to see a few familiar faces, there was no time for sentiment as he welcomed his former side to Borussia-Park. After losing their last three games, Gladbach needed to build some confidence in the early stages, and they got the start they so desperately craved, when they took the lead in the sixth minute. Luca Netz’s high cross found Joe Scally at the far post, and the American showed great awareness to guide the ball into the path of Neuhaus, who found the bottom corner with a powerful driven effort.
An entertaining encounter saw the visitors claim their fourth Bundesliga away win of the season, with goals from Florian Neuhaus, Jesper Lindstrøm and Daichi Kamada helping the Eagles to a 3-2 victory.
Buoyed by their opener, the hosts continued to threaten and only a strong save from Kevin Trapp could deny Alassane Pléa from grabbing Gladbach’s second goal of the evening. Despite offering very little for much of the first period, Frankfurt restored parity just before the break. Denis Zakaria lost the ball in his own half, and was subsequently punished as Lindstrøm’s low cross presented Rafael Borré with the simple task of tapping the ball into the net from close range.
Spurred on by their equaliser before half-time, the visitors flew out the traps in the second half and they hit the front in the 50th minute, when Evan N’dicka’s cut-back was thumped home by Lindstrøm.
After falling behind, the Foals were given a reprieve moments later, as Danny da Costa clumsily fouled Kouadio Koné in the box. The responsibility fell to Ramy Bensebaïni, who cooly dispatched the spot-kick, sending Trapp the wrong way.
Although, the hosts were not level for long as SGE retook the lead almost immediately. Kamada raced through on goal, and his low effort managed to squirm under the outstretched arm of Yann Sommer.
Having conceded 16 goals in their last three games prior to the evening’s contest, Gladbach’s defensive problems were coming to the fore once again, with the home defence looking particularly vulnerable following Eintracht Frankfurt’s third goal of the evening.
In the 70th minute, the Foals were provided with a lifeline, when Tuta was given his marching orders after being shown a second yellow card for a cynical foul. With the one-man advantage, the hosts began to apply the pressure, and Trapp had to be alert to tip Matthias Ginter’s header over the bar. Those two individuals were to reacquaint themselves in the final moments of the encounter, when Ginter's ambitious long-range strike forced Trapp into a smart save. The Frankfurt goalkeeper was called into action once again in stoppage time as he reacted well to deny Patrick Herrmann.
Oliver Glasner's side held firm to continue their impressive form, while Gladbach experience their fourth consecutive defeat.