As of: October 3rd, 2024 10:58 p.m
Eintracht Frankfurt wins the Europa League at Besiktas Istanbul. In addition to the goal scorers, a goal preventer in particular becomes the man of the evening.
It was supposed to be a “hard test in a cauldron,” as Eintracht sports director Markus Krösche said shortly before kick-off: Frankfurt passed it. In the second Europa League game of the season, the efficient Hessians won 3-1 (2-0) at Besiktas Istanbul on Thursday, making up for the carefree final phase of the opener against Pilsen (3-3). The European Cup got off to a successful start with four points from two games.
The Frankfurt goals in the sold-out Tüpraş Stadium not far from the Bosphorus were scored by Omar Marmoush from the penalty spot (19th), Junior Dina Ebimbe (22nd) and Ansgar Knauff (82nd). Arthur Masuaku scored for Istanbul (90+3). With the exception of a late mistake in the ultimately insignificant 1:3, Eintracht could also rely on their superbly parrying goalkeeper Kaua Santos, who, among other things, saved a penalty from Ciro Immobile (27th). “We did well,” said Krösche after the game: “The double strike helped us and we had a good goalkeeper.”
Eintracht survives a tricky initial phase
Eintracht coach Dino Toppmöller did without Hugo Ekitiké, who was recently injured, in the starting line-up. Instead, Igor Matanovic was allowed to storm again. Defensive man Tuta, who was watching the game on TV and not yet in the delivery room, was replaced on the six by Mo Dahoud. Mario Götze also returned to the team and – first of all – played inconspicuously in the left midfield. Niels Nkounkou rotated into the team at left back.
The game started quickly. That means: First the Besiktas team showed from the kick-off what vocal cords are capable of, then the Italian Immobile from Istanbul fell to the ground after minimal physical contact from Frankfurt’s last man, Robin Koch (8th). Penalty? Red card? Offside! Blow through in Hessian.
Resting balls are suddenly a strength
Eintracht did not allow themselves to be disturbed by the hosts who were present at the beginning and struck ice-cold for their part. Marmoush made his way into the penalty area after 17 minutes and made opponent Gabriel Paulista look old, which was probably not just because of his age, 33. Paulista resolutely tackled the dribbling Frankfurt striker. A clear foul, a penalty that Marmoush slotted into the middle of the goal to give Frankfurt the lead (19th).
While the Turks were now clearly struggling with the setback, Eintracht gave them another one – with a free kick trick. Instead of lifting the ball from the half field into the middle, the guests played the stationary ball briefly. Clack, clack, clack, after three more contacts the ball was in the net. Dina Ebimbe used the well-rehearsed variation from close range to make it 2-0 (22nd).
Kaua Santos dives and flies up
As a result, however, the Frankfurters downsized. Nkounkou in particular had apparently been chosen by the Turks as a weak point, and Besiktas attacks were constantly on the French. The Toppmöller team had their goalkeeper Kaua Santos to thank for the fact that Frankfurt still went into the locker room with a clear lead.
The young Brazilian, who had unnecessarily played his first pass into the touchline, showed a strong performance. First he dived into the right corner when Immobile took a hand penalty caused by the shaky captain Koch (27th), then he rose high into the air when he shot into the corner and directed the attempt onto the crossbar (37th). There’s no other way to put it: regular goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, who is working on his return, couldn’t have done any better.
Knauff decides the game finally
The guests came out of the locker room more stable, had more access and calmed the game down a bit. Marmoush, Matanovic and Fares Chaibi, who came on as a substitute for Götze, who had a head injury, had fairly well-mannered shots on goal early in the second period.
Besiktas tried it and also created two or three decent opportunities, but in the end the visitors’ defense withstood the attacks. Again and again a Frankfurter, often the once again strong Arthur Theate, threw himself into the shots of the home team. Substitute Knauff made it 3-0 by completing a counterattack. The late miss by the otherwise error-free Santos, who underestimated a harmless attempt by Masuaku and essentially threw the ball into the net himself (90th + 3), was irrelevant.
Besiktas Istanbul – Eintracht Frankfurt 1:3 (0:2)
Istanbul: Destanoglu – Svensson (64. Bulut), Paulista, Uduokhai, Masuaku – Gedson (77. Ucan), Ndour (77. Joao Mario), Muci, Rafa, Rashica (64. Kilicsoy) – Immobile (85. Hekimoglu)
Frankfurt: Santos – Kristensen, Koch, Theate, Nkounkou (86. Amenda) – Larsson, Dahoud – Ebimbe (62. Knauff), Götze (46. Chaibi) – Marmoush (62. Ekitike), Matanovic
Tore: 0:1 Marmoush (19./FE), 0:2 Bears (22.), 0:3 Knauff (82.), 1:3 Masuaku (90.+3)
Yellow cards: Immobile, Udoukhai, Ndour / Nkounkou, Koch, Ekitike
Referee: Beaton (Scotland)