Nicole Anyomi’s fine footwork was followed by a few dance steps. It can’t really be said that Eintracht Frankfurt would have danced into another Champions League season. They were too sober and serious about getting the job done in Kraichgau. It was Anyomi once again who provided the highlights in the SGE game.
The national player scored two goals with her right foot in the deserved 3-1 win at TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon. A beautiful one with a lot of feeling and spin (35th), a magnificent one with a lot of pulling power from a distance (47th). The 24-year-old’s ten and eleven league goals this season brought Eintracht very close to the goal of securing third place in the table in a private duel with Hoffenheim for the third year in a row.
With a four point lead and the much easier program in the season finale, the decision could be made on the next, penultimate matchday. Further appearances on the international stage are now very close. “We knew what it was about. Everyone knew: We have to and want to win,” said Anyomi. This was achieved with a concentrated performance and goals at the right moments against a strangely passive and erroneous Hoffenheim team. “We are very, very happy” after a “very, very deserved victory,” said Eintracht coach Niko Arnautis. “Overall, we put in a good performance.”
Home game atmosphere in the Hoffenheim stadium
The fact that the trip to Kraichgau not only had the right result but was also an experience was ensured by the many Eintracht fans who traveled along and spread the home game atmosphere in the Dietmar Hopp Stadium. “The atmosphere was outstanding. In the 90 minutes they really carried us and perhaps squeezed out the last percent,” said Pia-Sophie Wolter.
The right-back had not scored a goal in the league for three years. By ending her goalless streak in the seventh minute by scoring the lead in this important game, she did her employer a great service. The fact that it happened right in front of the loud block of guests gave Wolter, in his own words, “real goosebumps”. The appropriate song in a continuous loop: “Eintracht Frankfurt international”. If there was something missing from the SGE women’s game this season, it was a certain coolness and efficiency in front of the opponent’s goal. It wasn’t a bad time to revive these qualities in this important match.
Although the Hessians had the ball 61 percent of the time and were largely in control of the game, they were unable to achieve many clear shots on goal. Wolter’s shot, which the strong Laura Freigang had laid down with a good overview, brought the necessary calm into Frankfurt’s game. After the somewhat wild opening phase, in which TSG attacker Corley had a good chance to shoot after just 18 seconds of play, this was not necessarily to be expected.
Things also got tricky with a weakly defended Hoffenheim free kick (13th). But because the Frankfurt team stopped losing the ball unnecessarily, the defense held firm – until injury time, when Vanessa Leimenstoll scored Hoffenheim’s goal with a header. Frankfurt goalkeeper Stina Johannes, like a few too many times this season, didn’t look good.
But that was just a side note in the show that Nicole Anyomi delivered. Her direct hit shortly after the restart for a 3-0 lead brought her technique, power and precision together in one shot. At the time of her commitment to Eintracht with a contract extension until mid-2026, the club’s international perspective was still unclear – now Anyomi herself has ensured that almost nothing stands in the way of a new path to Champions League qualification this summer. The home game against Freiburg next Monday evening is the first match point. “If we get three points against Freiburg,” Anyomi announced, “then we will definitely celebrate.”
