Last minute drama in Frankfurt
Hinteregger rams Eintracht into the quarterfinals
03/17/2022 11:36 p.m
Borussia Dortmund out and Bayer Leverkusen out. The Europa League is once again a big disappointment for the Bundesliga teams. Luckily there is still Eintracht Frankfurt. The Eagles love Europe and win with the most dramatic result of all. The Waldstadion is upside down.
Martin Hinteregger gave Eintracht Frankfurt the long-awaited continuation of the European trip with a last-minute goal. With his headed goal in overtime, the defender secured a hard-fought 1-1 (0-1, 0-0) for the Bundesliga club on Thursday in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League against Real Betis Sevilla and, like in 2019, by 25,000 spectators acclaimed entry into the quarterfinals. Borja Iglesias (90th) gave the Spaniards the lead and equalized Frankfurt’s 2-1 win from the first leg last week. The draw for the quarter-finals, in which another German team is represented with RB Leipzig, will take place in Nyon on Friday afternoon.
“The last-minute Eintracht was back today,” said Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner on RTL. “It was an unbelievable game. Great success,” said the Austrian, who praised his compatriot and headed goal scorer Hinteregger and crosser Filip Kostic: “How Filip brings the ball, how Martin throws in there – that distinguished us again today.”
Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner trusted the same starting XI for the fourth time in a row and thus the eleven players who had also started in the 2-1 win in the first leg. Guest coach Manuel Pellegrini, on the other hand, sent four new players onto the pitch, including 40-year-old Joaquin and Rui Silva in goal instead of Claudio Bravo.
The changes initially had an effect, because the guests determined the initial phase and put a lot of pressure on Frankfurt. The hosts needed almost a quarter of an hour before they had their first chance – but it was tough right away. Brilliantly staged by Djibril Sow, Ansgar Knauff appeared free in front of goal, but only hit the crossbar.
Late compensation for extra time
Suddenly Eintracht was in the game and increasingly shifted the action to the opposing half. But the Hessians lacked precision in front of the Andalusians. Again and again the last pass failed, so that further opportunities were missed. After all, the hosts did not let the fifth in the Spanish La Liga table come to dangerous goals. As a result, it went goalless at the break.
As in the first half, Sevilla started energetically after the change, but without initially being able to create a clear chance. Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp only had to grab a long-range shot from France’s world champion Nabil Fekir.
But Frankfurt also continued to find it extremely difficult on the offensive. Unlike in the first leg, the Betis defense was hardly ever embarrassed. Even with standard situations, the Glasner team developed no danger – until the 63rd minute, when a free kick from Filip Kostic landed on the crossbar. Almost in return, Trapp saved Eintracht from falling behind when Juanmi headed the ball with a brilliant save.
Eintracht allowed themselves a moment of carelessness in the final stages, which substitute striker Iglesias took advantage of to make it 1-0 to Sevilla just before the end of regular time. In extra time, Iglesias hit the crossbar again before Hinteregger Frankfurt secured progress.