Three points for the table and a lot of added value for self-confidence – the Frankfurter Eintracht women gained a lot on Sunday afternoon. The Bundesliga home game against TSG Hoffenheim 3-1 and the certainty that we were the significantly better team in a direct duel with a competitor for the international places.
With this significant success, Frankfurt’s race to catch up after the unsuccessful start to the season in the league is over for the time being: Eintracht has overtaken Hoffenheim and Essen and taken third place, the (minimum) goal of every season in order to take part in the Champions League again can. “A very special and happy day for us. I am very happy with the performance,” said coach Niko Arnautis.
Surprised at the beginning
While the first half was a lively showdown between two teams whose style was uncompromisingly forward-looking, the picture changed significantly in favor of the SGE after the change. From then on, Eintracht were clearly superior, more confident on the ball, more powerful and, last but not least, fitter. Which clearly reflects the result of 3:1 despite the early shock of conceding a goal.
“I’m most pleased with the way we deservedly won. “Playing a game like that after an early deficit is not a given,” said Arnautis.
In front of 2,370 spectators in the stadium at Brentanobad, Eintracht was taken by surprise at the beginning. TSG player Julia Hickelsberger-Füller rounded goalkeeper Stina Johannes after a nice pass and finished (4th). The Frankfurters are actually known for always starting wide awake – this season they haven’t conceded a goal in the first 15 minutes of the game.
On Sunday, however, they appeared calm in dealing with the early setback. Géraldine Reuteler missed the good opportunity to equalize (13th), before her three offensive colleagues managed to do so in co-production. Laura Freigang’s shot hit the crossbar, Nicole Anyomi pushed the rebound onto the post before Lara Prasnikar was able to finish (42′).
After the restart, the Frankfurt women showed why they have a good chance of playing in the Champions League group phase this year and not the Kraichgau women.
Anyomi’s extra class
Clearly determining the game, always dangerous at the front and confidently repelling all of Hoffenheim’s attacking efforts at the back, the SGE showed a mature performance that will also provide momentum and nurture hope that the international campaign will continue successfully this Wednesday. Eintracht plays against Benfica Lisbon.
Against Hoffenheim, Anyomi showed her extra class in the 48th minute, which makes her the defining figure of the Eintracht offensive, but surprisingly is still hardly used by the respective national coaches in the national team circle.
Her precise shot into the net after dynamic dribbling was worth seeing. Anyomi’s skillful solo effort could only be blocked by the TSG defense with combined forces (81′). In between, Barbara Dunst (55th and 59th), Reuteler (61st) and the recovered Laura Freigang (72nd) had further chances to express the balance of power on the pitch.
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But in the end it was up to the young substitute strikers, who Arnautis keeps in the waiting position on the bench for a long time in all important games, to decide the game: Shekiera Martinez scored the goal to make it 3-1 in stoppage time after an assist from Carlotta Wamser.
