Jürgen Grabowski’s widow experiences an emotional home win in Frankfurt
With a home win against VfL Bochum, Frankfurt said goodbye to Eintracht legend Jürgen Grabowski. “He’ll never go all the way,” said President Peter Fischer before kick-off. It was a successful dress rehearsal for the team ahead of the Seville second leg.
Bith an emotional farewell to club legend Jürgen Grabowski, Eintracht Frankfurt celebrated their first home win of the year. The Hessians drew 2-1 (0-1) against VfL Bochum and celebrated their third competitive win in a row, a successful dress rehearsal for the second round of the Europa League round of 16 against Betis Sevilla.
Sebastian Polter (19th minute) gave the promoted team the lead in front of 24,000 spectators, which Erhan Masovic (46th) equalized with an own goal shortly after the change. Daichi Kamada (52nd) scored the winning goal for Frankfurt, who climbed to ninth place in the Bundesliga with 37 points. Bochum remains eleventh with 32 points.
“I’m very proud and happy about this 2-1. It was very important, this win,” said Frankfurt defender Djibril Sow on the streaming service “DAZN”. The opening phase of the second half was crucial from his point of view. “We came out great after half-time,” said the Swiss. Coach Oliver Glasner spoke of an “energetic performance” because his team came from behind. “I’m very satisfied. I can only compliment the boys. We are really happy about the three points.”
Bochum were crushed because the lead was handed over within a few minutes. “We all slept soundly,” said captain Anthony Losilla, “that was a decent away game from us. Now we go home without points. That’s annoying.” And goalscorer Polter grumbled: “I’m mad that we lost the game.”
Pustekuchen: Bochum’s goalscorer Sebastian Polter (right) and Elvis Rexhbecaj after the 1-0, which ended up not bringing any points
Source: dpa/Uwe Anspach
Before the kick-off, the Frankfurters thought of their club legend Jürgen Grabowski, who died last Thursday at the age of 77. “Everyone has images in their heads, everyone has memories. Jürgen will never go completely because we will always think back to him,” said the visibly moved Eintracht President Peter Fischer in the presence of Grabowski’s wife Helga about the former world and European champion.
Eintracht turns the game in six minutes
After a minute’s silence, the ball rolled. Buoyed by the recent victories at Hertha BSC (4-1) and Betis Sevilla (2-1), the home side, who played with black armbands and started with the same formation for the third time in a row, got off to a better start . Kamada missed the chance for an early lead in the 2nd minute.
But it quickly became obvious: against Bochum, who had changed six positions, the Hessians, where midfielders Sebastian Rode and Danny da Costa were out for a short time, initially lacked the necessary precision in the build-up.
So the first hit fell on the other side. Polter headed in a free-kick from Konstantinos Stafylidis. And VfL could have done better – even had to. After submission by ex-Frankfurter Danny Blum, Takuma Asano was completely free in the middle, but failed from five meters at the outstanding reacting Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. Frankfurt, on the other hand, continued to struggle on the offensive. Only in the final minutes of the first half did coach Oliver Glasner’s team increase the pressure again, but VfL withstood it.
Only 55 seconds after the restart, the time had come. Bochum’s defender Masovic unhappily tackled a shot by Jesper Lindström and put the ball into his own net. Eintracht had turned the game five minutes later when Kamada completed a classy attack over several stations from close range.
Successful start after the break: Frankfurt’s Jesper Lindström (right) and Ansgar Knauff celebrate the goal to make it 1-1. photo
Source: dpa/Uwe Anspach
Bochum then tried to find a suitable answer to the double strike, but the guests lacked the power to penetrate. Frankfurt was more dangerous, but slipped at the end. In the final phase, Trapp held the Eintracht victory.
