NIt only took a few minutes, then the shot into luck was perfect. Jens Petter Hauge is the man who created the most important goal of his life to date for collective Frankfurt feelings of joy. In the 82nd minute in the away game at Olympiacos Piraeus, the Norwegian struck Eintracht in the first minute of stoppage time after preparatory work by substitute Jesper Lindström. 2: 1 instead of 1: 1 – the coup was perfect, after the 3-1 first leg win, Eintracht managed to defeat the Greeks in their atmospheric stadium.
The table of group D in the Europa League leads the Eintracht confidently with ten points – and the first big goal of the season has already been achieved since Thursday evening: the team of coach Oliver Glasner is wintering in Europe. The second round has definitely been reached, but it is possible that Eintracht will move into the second round as first. “I feel great relief,” said Markus Krösche. “We fought our way back and are all very happy with the win.” The Eintracht sports director made it clear after the game in Piraeus: “There was pressure on the kettle. I’m happy for the team, especially after the difficult days. “
Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner was also relieved after the victory, which was hardly thought possible. “Simply great, great. It was a very difficult game, ”said the Austrian. “It was a big fight in the second half, but we held up against it in this cauldron. It’s a great evening for us and the fans. “
Insufficient performance by a trio
As expected, Glasner got his team rotating. In contrast to the Leipzig game, Makoto Hasebe, Timothy Chandler, Aymen Barkok and Sam Lammers made four newcomers into the starting line-up. Erik Durm was out for a short time due to gastrointestinal problems, Martin Hinteregger initially took a seat on the bench. Even when the game began, late autumn was showing its pleasant side. During the day it was still 23 degrees in Piraeus, in the evening under floodlights it was only slightly cooler.
It was hotter in the stands. The enthusiastic fans of Olympiakos presented themselves hot-blooded and only confirmed what Glasner had expected for the European Cup evening: a “great atmosphere”. What didn’t fit was the performance of a trio. Djibril Sow, Lammers and Barkok did not meet the requirements that evening. Almost nothing was going to work for them. As a result, Olympiacos always had chances to score.
The Greeks put a lot of pressure, especially on the left. For the first time and lastingly in the twelfth minute, when Henry Onyekuru had an easy time overrunning Tuta and staging the well-positioned Youssef El-Arabi with an eye for the free man in the penalty area. The Olympiakos captain gave Kevin Trapp, who was powerless at the time, no chance to defend himself. 1-0 – the Greeks had presented, and behind the Frankfurter Tor, where the Olympiakos fans created a great atmosphere, there was a first emotional discharge.
Kevin Trapp parries sensationally several times.
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Image: AFP
From the Eintracht, who defensively relied on a three-way defensive chain, formed by Hasebe, Evan Ndicka and Tuta, was hardly to be seen in this period of the game. An attempt by Kristijan Jakic, who missed his target by a long way – that was it (16.). All the more surprising then the equalization a minute later. It was mainly thanks to the foresight of the strong Rafael Borré that the well-cleared Daichi Kamada had no trouble to complete the 1-1 draw.
The weak Barkok, who once again showed his fickle face, was only noticed in the further course of the game by a rude foul when he illegally braked Oleg Reabciuk after half an hour. A whistle and a warning surprisingly failed to materialize. Trapp’s shape was no surprise. The Eintracht goalkeeper showed a world-class performance twice when he sensationally parried the two shots from Giorgos Masouras and Mady Camara (36th and 39th).
Also in the second section it was the 46-time Greek champions who dominated the game. In the 57th minute, Onyekuru failed to provide the overdue lead. The substitutions of Lammers and Barkok, for which Lindström and Almamy Touré came (58th), were also overdue. Color literally came into the heated game, because Glasner saw the yellow card. Enraged by a mistake by his players, he shot the ball away.
Twelve minutes before the end of regular time, Glasner decided again to make a double change. Sebastian Rode and Hauge came, Jakic and Borré, the best from Frankfurt, left. What remained was the hope of bringing the at that time flattering 1: 1 over time. But it turned out quite differently. Hauge turned the game around with his stroke of genius, and teammate Timothy Chandler said in his analysis of the late goal: “We always believe we will win the game until the end.” In Piraeus this belief has fully developed.
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