Missteps by the Keeper:
Eintracht Frankfurt seemed poised to clinch victory against Viktoria Pilsen in the Europa League, but a late twist turned the tide in extra time. The Hessians need to elevate their performance in future matches.
A substantial time lapse since their exhilarating victory in Sevilla, Eintrcht Frankfurt's Europa League return was underwhelming. In their favored competition, the team unexpectedly relinquished a seemingly secure lead in the closing moments, leading to a 3:3 (1:1) draw against Viktoria Pilsen. This setback followed three consecutive league victories. Despite this, Eintrcht Frankfurt retained an undefeated streak in their 14th consecutive Europa League game, following their title run in the 2021/22 season.
Three goals by Hugo Ekitike (38.), Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe (62.), and Rasmus Kristensen (67.) gave Eintrcht Frankfurt a substantial advantage. However, a goal by Pavel Sulc (41.), Prince Kwabena Adu (86.), and Vaclav Jemelka (90.+3) turned the tide. Goalkeeper Kaua Santos, temporarily filling in for the injured Kevin Trapp, appeared shaky when the comeback was initiated. The team led by Dino Toppmoeller faces challenging tasks ahead, with away matches in Kiel and Besiktas Istanbul, and a home game against Bayern, following the international break. In the previous two seasons, Eintrcht Frankfurt participated in the Champions League and subsequently the Conference League.**
"Europa League is a special competition for Eintracht"
Ever since their triumph in 2022, the Europa League has held a peculiar significance for Eintrcht Frankfurt, Toppmoeller emphasized before the game. "We all recognize this, and that's how everyone feels," he noted. "Winning the title again is a wish, but we have to approach it one step at a time." Initially, the novice "Buffalo Herd" (Toppmoller) consisting of Ekitike, Omar Marmoush, and debutant Igor Matanovic, required time to find their rhythm.
Matanovic tested Martin Jedlicka with a low shot (17), but aside from that, Eintrcht primarily circled around Pilsen's penalty area, despite having ample possession. Following a flawless double pass from Kristensen and Ekitike, Ekitike capitalized with a low left-footed shot into the far corner to take the lead. However, Sulc promptly responded with an outstanding shot from a distance, the first serious attempt by the underdogs.
In the second half, the supporters fell silent due to a medical emergency in the stands, and the team struggled to regain rhythm and momentum in the ominous atmosphere. It took double substitutions to inject fresh energy and a new vibe, with "Joker" Ebimbe scoring a stunning pass from Ekitike. Moments later, Kristensen notched another goal with a powerful shot. After Adu's equalizer, tension reemerged, but Santos flubbed the opportunity and was obstructed by his own teammates.
Despite the setback, Europa League remains a cherished competition for Eintracht Frankfurt. Next up in their Europa League journey is an away match against Kiel.
Ekitike's goal in the first half gave Eintracht Frankfurt a comfortable lead in the Europa League, but they eventually drew with Viktoria Pilsen due to late goals.
