Wwhat a spectacle. It was exactly the right day that Frankfurt Eintracht had chosen for it. Because on Sunday, when the thrilling 4:3 win at Werder Bremen was the long-awaited first win of the season, Oliver Glasner really had every reason to celebrate. The Eintracht coach was 48 years old. His team thanked him with a great performance. “That was a top performance for 60 minutes,” said the football coach in his analysis. “I have absolutely great respect for my players.”
Glasner spoke of problems that his team had after the furious opening hour “with long balls and Werder’s force”. But the Eintracht coach believes he is on course. “We fought back after the bumpy start to the season. I could already feel the ambition and greed in training during the week.” The victory, shot out through the goals of Mario Götze (2nd minute), Randal Kolo Muani (32nd), Jesper Lindström (39th) and Djibril Sow ( 48.), was deserved. An assessment that Werder coach Ole Werner did not contradict. “We just didn’t find the space against Eintracht,” said the promoter. “We couldn’t defend the speed of Frankfurt.”
In addition to the first win of the season, there was more good news. “Daichi Kamada informed us before the game that he was staying,” said Glasner. Reports that the strategist would join Benfica Lisbon turned out to be an air number. The Japanese is loyal to Eintracht, as is goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. “It’s a very important sign that we’re keeping our key players,” said Glasner on his day of honor in Bremen.
The game started furiously in front of 41,000 spectators in the sold-out Weser Stadium. It only took less than two minutes before it was already 1-0 for Eintracht. Kamada was unlucky with his header, which Werder goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka parried splendidly. But when Mario Götze took measurements from 20 meters, the Czech was powerless. Flat, hard and precise – Götze’s shot found its target on a day when the spectators in the Hanseatic city experienced a spectacle.
When Werder and Eintracht meet under first-class conditions, there are usually a lot of goals to be seen. This was also the case on this fourth day of the Bundesliga match, because the equalizer came out of nowhere. Anthony Jung gratefully accepted Evan Ndicka’s unsuccessful defensive action, who unintentionally played the ball down the run and gave Eintracht goalkeeper Trapp no chance (14′). It was Werder’s first action ever. And with the second, the Bremen team also caused enthusiasm in the stands. When Marvin Ducksch had plenty of time to play a free kick into the Frankfurt penalty area, Leonardo Bittencourt was free to head in to make it 2-1 (17′).
The counter of unity? It followed just two minutes later as Kamada equalised. But bad luck for Frankfurt: The Japanese was just offside when he supposedly scored with a header. The video referee confirmed the decision previously made by referee Patrick Ittrich.
Muani and Lindstrom worth seeing
The bold concord was not thrown off course. The hunt for the 2:2 continued. Luca Pellegrini, with a cleverly kicked corner, was the first to have the chance. But Pavlenka was on the post (23rd). When Lindström ran alone towards the Werder goalkeeper, the equalizer seemed to be only a matter of seconds – but the Dane missed. Muani did better with a spectacular solo. He fooled Milos Veljkovic and Marco Friedl, put the ball sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left – and then finished very well to make it 2:2 (32nd). A goal that was just as spectacular as Lindström’s goal, which gave Frankfurt a 3-2 lead (39′). This time, when Lindström stormed towards Pavlenka alone again, he opted for a cleverly played, soulful lob.
Even after the change of sides, the exchange of blows continued. It only took three minutes before Eintracht struck for the fourth time. This time it was Sow, who benefited from Kamada’s prudence and circled the ball with a good overview into the right Bremen corner. 4:2 – should this be the end of this goal-rich hustle and bustle on the Weser? Jens Stage had the opportunity to close the gap in the 56th minute. But the Dane’s header passed over Trapp’s goal. Kamada’s shot, who had Eintracht on goal number five (59′), also missed its target. Werder fought as best they could and had more chances to score through Lee Buchanan (70′) and Mitchell Weiser (75′).
The fact that Werder actually made it 3: 4 was due to a highly controversial scene. Ndicka had touched Ducksch marginally, the video referee spoke up again – and Ittrich pointed to the penalty spot. Niclas Füllkrug insisted on deceiving Trapp and shooting into the other corner of the goal (90′).
Heated, hectic, emotional: It was a long five minutes that Eintracht had to endure. Coach Glasner, who ran onto the field briefly, was warned and saw a yellow card (93′). Defender Tuta was lucky that his save didn’t result in an own goal (94′). Shortly after that it was over – and the team’s birthday present was perfect. Captain Sebastian Rode said in the catacombs of the Weser Stadium: “It was extremely important for us to get the three points. We now have two tough months ahead of us.” With a lot of trials in the Bundesliga and the Champions League. A program with potential for further possible spectacles.
