The SGE quickly took a 2-0 lead at Union Saint-Gilloise. In the end it wasn’t enough for a win.
Despite a strong initial phase, Eintracht Frankfurt is in danger of missing the round of 16 of the Conference League. In the playoff first leg at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the SGE only managed a 2-2 draw despite an early 2-0 lead. This means that the Toppmöller team has to win the second leg in Frankfurt in order to continue to be represented internationally.
Fares Chaibi (3rd) and Sasa Kalajdzic (10th) quickly put the SGE on the road to victory, Mathias Rasmussen (31st) and Gustaf Nilsson (68th) equalized for the hosts. Saint-Gilloise also had to end the game outnumbered after a flattering dismissal for Charles Vanhoutte (78th, yellow-red for handball). The second leg will take place next Thursday in Frankfurt’s Waldstadion.
That’s how the game went
Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller declared “fight mode” before the game. However, his protégés only took this instruction to heart in the first half hour, when they dominated the game and were rewarded with two goals. After less than 150 seconds, Chaibi scored from close range after a shot from Kalajdzic had been blocked. Niels Nkounkou had previously prepared exemplary.
And it got even better. Just a few minutes later, Kalajdzic, who was missing from last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against VfL Bochum due to the birth of his child, carefully completed a classy counterattack via Omar Marmoush and Chaibi. It was the first goal for the Austrian, who came on loan from English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in the winter.
With a clear lead behind them, Frankfurt initially controlled the game and skillfully kept the hosts away from their own goal. Only a header from Nilsson, which narrowly missed the target, was initially in danger. The Bundesliga team still had the better chances. Chaibi failed with a long-range shot past former Eintracht goalkeeper Heinz Lindner, and a little later Kalajdzic missed from a promising position.
But then Ellyes Skhiri blacked out and brought the Belgians back into the game. Rasmussen took advantage of a serious mistake by the Frankfurt defensive player, who missed the ball in his own penalty area, to connect. The goal had an impact on the guests, who were no longer so dominant and were increasingly having problems defensively.
This continued after the change. Saint-Gilloise created a few chances against a heavily weakening Hessian team. Nilsson missed twice, first heading the ball well over the goal from five meters and a short time later his shot from eleven meters was missed by Trapp.
However, the Swede, who used to play for SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the 3rd league, did better in the third attempt. After a pass to the front, the striker maneuvered the ball past the rushing Trapp into the net and rewarded the hosts for their tireless effort.