Wild game – Frankfurt turns first in Ajax

Europa League, round of 16

Wild game: Frankfurt turns first in Amsterdam

The SGE must cope with an early fright at Ajax. After that, the game takes a different course – and remains exciting until the end.

Eintracht Frankfurt has earned a good starting position for the second leg in the round of 16 of the Europa League through an energy performance: On Thursday evening, the SBU won 2: 1 (1: 1) at Ajax in Amsterdam and will thus go to the next Thursday in its own stadium.

Brian Brobbey (10th) quickly gave the offensive hosts in the lead, but Frankfurt got better and better in a temporary stirring and intensely guided game. Hugo Larsson (27th) and Ellyes Skhiri (70th) deservedly turned the game for the team of coach Dino Toppmöller. However, Ajax remained dangerous until the final minutes and pressed the equalization. For free.

Without her defense chief Robin Koch, who could not start the trip to Amsterdam because of a concussion and was replaced by Namdi Collins in the chain of four, the Hesse came under a lot of pressure at the beginning of the game.

Not even 90 seconds were played when Ajax striker Brobbey vigorously prevailed against Tuta. Fortunately for Eintracht, his shot landed only on the outer post. Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Kevin Trapp would have been powerless.

The home side stayed on the pusher and rewarded themselves for their initial urge for offensive. Kenneth Taylor flanked on the long post, where Brobbey came freely to the header and scored the lead from nearby. The trapp, which remains on the line, did not look good in this scene.

Only after the deficit did the guests come into play – and came to a big chance. Ansgar Knauff suddenly had free rail on half-right, but failed with his too unplaced shot to Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer. Shortly afterwards, the next promising campaign did not lead to success because Josip Šutalo saved Hugo Ekitiké at the last moment.

The European League winner of 2022 has now designed the game balanced, but continued to seem susceptible to the defense. Taylor had the 2-0 on the foot, but this time Trapp was on the post and parried. A little later the early end for his counterpart Pasveer, who had to vacate his place between the posts.

For him, replacement goalkeeper Jay Gorter, who had to get the ball off the net with his first action. Larsson took a heart from almost 20 meters and hit the corner with a placed shot that Brobbey was still fusing. This ensured even more calm and self -confidence with the guests who now had a firm grip on the game.

The first chance after the restart belonged to the hosts, but this time Trapp remained in the duel with the brobbey of the winner that was hard to stop. Practically in return, Ekitiké missed the lead for the Frankfurter. His shot just broke past the long post.

The Eintracht subsequently acted clarified and patiently waited for its chance. It came after 70 minutes. Knauff refueled on the right side and put in the penalty area across Skhiri, which completed ice cold. In the final phase, the Hesse defended the narrow lead with luck and skill.