Lots of blood and two late goals
Eintracht fights for new European Cup evenings
8/31/2023 10:32 p.m
Victory in the Europa League, big Champions League nights and now Conference League: Eintracht Frankfurt is playing in Europe again this season. However, the way through the playoffs is tough: the duel with Levski Sofia is decided late.
Unimpressed by the transfer theater around the striking striker Randal Kolo Muani, Eintracht Frankfurt has reached the group stage in the Conference League and thus booked the ticket for the third trip to Europe in a row. The Bundesliga soccer club won the playoff second leg against Levski Sofia 2-0 (0-0) on Thursday evening and secured progress after the 1-1 draw in the first leg.
In front of 46,000 spectators, Joker Jessic Ngankam scored the goals in the 79th minute and Ellyes Skhiri in the 86th minute for the Hessians, who won the Europa League in 2022 and were in the Champions League for the first time in the previous season. In the absence of Kolo Muani, who wants to force his move to French top club Paris Saint-Germain with a training suspension, Paxten Aaronson was allowed to play on the offensive from the start. The hosts dominated the game, but were initially unable to create any chances. And when the ball finally went into the net midway through the first half, scorer Omar Marmoush was ruled offside.
Although the Frankfurters, where Kristijan Jakic was eliminated after a good 30 minutes with a head injury, controlled the ball for long periods. But mostly it only ran wide through their own ranks. Nothing changed in the course of the game after the change. Eintracht ran tirelessly, but could hardly shake the defensive bulwark of the guests. Junior Dinah Ebimbe (53rd) missed the best opportunity to lead.
Finally, Ngankam redeemed coach Dino Toppmöller’s team with his opening goal after assisting Mario Götze. The newcomer from Bundesliga relegated Hertha BSC had only been substituted on nine minutes earlier. Shortly before the opening goal, Levski’s Ricardinho suffered a bleeding wound on his face in a duel with Robin Koch, but unlike the injured Jakic, the Brazilian was able to finish the game with a turban.