This one shot, this virtually the very last action of the game and the game year, was loaded with a lot of meaning. It was already clear before Laura Freigang took the penalty in the 94th minute that Frankfurter Eintracht’s women would finish in a good third place in the Bundesliga and would still be represented in the DFB Cup.
All well and good in the eyes of the players. But this season their attention and aspirations are particularly focused on the Champions League. Leading player Freigang played in the home game against Benfica Lisbon on Thursday evening and it was clear: If she scores, the chances of the big coup, a place in the quarter-finals among the best eight teams in Europe, are good; If it doesn’t happen, the dream is basically over.
“I’m annoyed by the way it’s done.”
Freigang, a strong (nervous) shooter from the point, didn’t score because the Portuguese goalkeeper Lena Pauels sensed the corner and Freigang’s shot was too lazy and out of place. “I knew,” said the bewildered national player later, “that the penalty was a decisive one. I was convinced that I would put it in – but unfortunately that didn’t show at all in my shot. I’m annoyed by the way it’s done. It’s just bitter.”
Instead of a possible and deserved 2-1 win, there was a hard-to-accept 1-1 draw against Benfica, which now has the best chance of advancing to the knockout rounds. Before the final two group games in January, the SGE is now three points behind the Portuguese and has also lost the direct comparison, which would be used next in the event of a tie.
Now the next matchday in the group has the most difficult task for Eintracht that can currently be faced in international women’s football: an away game against defending champions FC Barcelona, especially with the task of absolutely having to score points.
Published/Updated: Alex Westhoff Published/Updated: Alex Westhoff Published/Updated:
“Everything is possible in football. “That’s not just an empty phrase, that’s how it is,” said coach Niko Arnautis on television, but described the chances of progressing as “minimal”. The coach also emphasized that he was “very proud” of how his team performed against Benfica. It’s true that Frankfurt played a strong, extremely powerful first half, including a goal from Geraldine Reuteler (28th). The fact that they brought this Sturm und Drang onto the pitch in some parts of the game in the second half and Nycole Raysla’s goal (71′) seemed unfair.
At this level, however, it is hardly forgivable to capitalize so little on this oppressive superiority against a hopelessly overwhelmed opponent. Creating scenes in the penalty area from so many promising ball wins, but then getting so few clear shots on goal.
In particular, Nicole Anyomi, who had been in such good form in recent weeks, lacked her usual power in front of 10,200 spectators in the arena, and she also intuitively made many wrong decisions. The fact that there was only one goal and one point against Lisbon in two 90 minutes is poor. And then the half-year balance clouds considerably.
