Big win in the Conference League
Magical unity beats up overwhelmed Finns
October 26, 2023, 10:55 p.m
Eintracht Frankfurt is in a goal-scoring mood in the Conference League game against HJK Helsinki. With an impressive 6-0, the Hessians took a huge step towards the next round. 35-year-old Jens Grahl is celebrating his international debut at the Frankfurter Tor.
Finally another magical European Cup night: Eintracht Frankfurt has also underlined its upward trend internationally and taken an important step towards the dream destination of Athens. The SGE won the Conference League against the overwhelmed Finnish champions HJK Helsinki 6-0 (4-0) and is now fully on target with six points from three games in the fight for the knockout round. “It was a lot of fun. The fans deserved it, we worked for it,” said goal scorer Omar Marmoush on the RTL microphone after the decisive victory: “It shows how the team has developed.”
Double packer Junior Dina Ebimbe (12th, hand penalty after video evidence/89th), Robin Koch (27th), Marmoush (31st), Tuta (45th + 3) and Ellyes Skhiri (55th) shot the Bundesliga club to unchallenged success. With the third competitive game win in a row, Eintracht gained further self-confidence after a bumpy start to the season. Borussia Dortmund awaits in the Bundesliga on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN).
35-year-old Jens Grahl celebrated his international debut in the Frankfurt goal; as he did in the 3-1 win at TSG Hoffenheim, he represented Kevin Trapp. The national goalkeeper, who had been missing from the league due to injury, received a highly controversial red card in Eintracht’s last Conference League appearance. In total, coach Dino Toppmöller changed to four positions, and Mario Götze also returned to the first team after his maternity leave.
Frankfurt more than lives up to its role as favorite
“With all due respect to the opponent, we know that we are the clear favorites,” Frankfurt’s coach had emphasized in advance. But the outsider had the first chance, Perparim Hetemaj failed because of Grahl (5th). The SGE quickly shook off the initial small shock and, cheered on loudly by their own fans, the home team put their opponents under pressure early on. After a good header opportunity for Marmoush, the VAR suddenly reported: Helsinki’s Jukka Raitala had clearly touched the ball with her hand in the aerial duel. Dina Ebimbe converted the penalty.
The opening goal gave Eintracht a boost, and Frankfurt repeatedly played its way in front of the guests’ goal. The quick 2-0 came again after a dead ball: Koch scored directly after a corner from Fares Chaibi. Just three minutes after the second goal, Marmoush failed twice in defense, and the third attempt failed. After another corner from the outstanding Chaibi, Tuta headed in before the break to make it 4-0. Helsinki made three substitutions, but this didn’t change the game. At the end of a great combination, Skhiri made it 5-0, Dina Ebimbe made it half a dozen with his second goal in the final phase.