Frankfurt vs Dortmund: Bundesliga 3-3 Thriller

In a crazy final phase, Borussia Dortmund secured at least one point to start the new year and provided FC Bayern with the next through ball. Thanks to a last-minute goal from Carney Chukwuemeka, the second-place team saved a 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt at the restart of the Bundesliga. League leaders Munich could now build up a double-digit cushion before the halfway point of the season.

Maximilian Beier (10th minute) with the first goal of the new calendar year and Felix Nmecha (68th) each put BVB in the lead, but overall Dortmund acted passively for a long time. Can Uzun with a penalty kick in the 22nd minute, Frankfurt native Younes Ebnoutalib (71st) and Mahmoud Dahoud (90th + 2) scored for Frankfurt.

Schlotterbeck’s fantastic diagonal pass

In rainy conditions but free of snow, BVB provided the first highlight. Nico Schlotterbeck’s fantastic diagonal pass found Julian Ryerson, who crossed directly and fed the free-standing Beier at the first post. Eintracht reacted and pushed forward more, Uzun’s shot caused Kobel to ricochet to the side (17th).

The Dortmund team, in the person of Serhou Guirassy, helped to bring the SGE into the game. The striker kicked Eintracht captain Robin Koch in the back of the knee after a throw-in, and Uzun confidently converted the penalty. The game became tougher, both teams fought robustly and kept each other away from the goals.

BVB found it difficult to get rid of the rust from the winter break on offense. The best chance after the goal came from a free kick, but Santos saved Schlotterbeck’s header (40′).

Eintracht came out of the locker room more actively, but BVB missed the lead. A blocked cross pass fell back at Daniel Svensson’s feet, but the defender was surprised and missed the free goal (52nd). It now went back and forth, on the other side Knauff moved to the short corner after a counterattack via Ebnoutalib, Kobel parried (54′).

At the end, events come to a head

Dortmund had better chances, but Nmecha’s opening goal from distance was more of a coincidence. Arthur Theate cleared the ball at the feet of the midfielder, Hugo Larsson deflected the shot unstoppable for Santos. Almost in direct response, substitute newcomer Arnaud Kalimuendo sent on the new Frankfurt striker Ebnoutalib, who stayed cool in front of Kobel. In the final phase, events came to a head.

First Schlotterbeck hit the post with his head, then Frankfurt’s Mo Dahoud scored a fantastic 3-2 in stoppage time. It seemed like a sure winner – until Chukwuemeka appeared alone in front of Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos at the last minute.

BVB’s gap to Bayern could grow to eleven points if the record champions win their home game against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday (5:30 p.m., DAZN). The point in the fight for Europe helps Eintracht to some extent, even if the seventh place in the table missed a direct connection to the top group.