Draw in the Conference League: Eintracht disappointed after a strong start at St. Gilloise

Eintracht Frankfurt only played a draw at Union St. Gilloise. The Hessians offered a strong initial phase, but then they simply allowed the game to be taken out of their hands.

Eintracht Frankfurt drew 2-2 in the first leg of the knockout round of the Conference League at Union St. Gilloise on Thursday evening. The goals for the Hessians were scored by Fares Chaibi (3rd) and Sasa Kalajdzic (10th), while Mathias Rasmussen (31st) and Gustaf Nilsson (68th) scored for Union.

Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller sent his team into the game offensively, Omar Marmoush, Kalajdzic and Chaibi formed the offensive. Eintracht sports director Markus Krösche called for less classical music, more heavy metal at the beginning of the week, and the team delivered.

Chaibi’s lightning start

After just three minutes, Niels Nkounkou made his way to the baseline on the left and put it back, Kalajdzic’s shot from close range was blocked, but the Union defense was powerless against Chaibi’s goal – 1-0 for the guests.

The Belgian league leader, still unbeaten internationally, had no idea what was happening to him in the early stages. Eintracht presented themselves as playful and aggressive. After winning the ball in his own half, Götze passed the ball to Marmoush, whose beautiful pass was passed by Chaibi in a half-right position. Chaibi’s well-considered cross was completed by Kalajdzic to make it 2-0, a picture-perfect counterattack (10th).

Skhiri sloppy

Little or nothing came from Union, the very eye-catching Chaibi with a long-range shot almost made it 3-0, and Nkounkou’s beautiful interface pass after winning the ball to Chaibi would have deserved a goal. But even without a third goal, the Hessians clearly had their hat on in Belgium.

One thought. But then Ellyes Skhiri sloppy when receiving the ball in his own box, Mohammed Amoura ran the ball and put it across, Kevin Trapp was powerless against Mathias Rasmussen from close range (31′). An unnecessary goal that was not even remotely foreshadowed.

Eintracht loses control

As a result, Eintracht seemed less confident, a little nervousness arose here and there, although Union was unable to create 100% chances to score even in the rush. On the other hand, Union defense chief Christian Burgess slipped through a half-court cross from Aurelio Buta, but Marmoush failed to head past former Eintracht keeper Heinz Lindner from close range and an acute angle (42′).

As spectacular as the Hessians had started the game, the situation was quite the opposite in the second half. The Belgians came out of the locker room like the fire brigade, forced Eintracht to make mistakes with aggressive, intense play and restricted the Hessians in their own half a.

Nilsson equalizes

Gustaf Nilsson should have made it 2-2 with a clear header in front of Trapp, but the ex-Wiesbaden player headed well over (58′). A little later, Nilsson did better when he completed a Union combination through the Eintracht penalty area. Trapp should have come out more decisively in this situation (65th).

Eintracht appeared extremely erratic in the second half, made many passing errors and usually kept the ball in their own ranks far too short. The Hessians were dominated by Union for large parts of the second half, and with a header attempt by substitute Hugo Ekitike there was only one notable chance for Eintracht.

Disappointing second half

The traffic light card for Union’s Charles Vanhoutte in the final phase didn’t change anything. Overall, a rather disappointing performance from Eintracht, who, after a strong start and a careless mistake, simply let themselves be bought.