Frankfurt end run to solidify place in top four
Eintracht Frankfurt hammered Union Berlin 5-2 to end a run of three games without a win and establish a grip on fourth place and Champions League qualification for next season.
The match
Filip Kostic set up Andre Silva to open the scoring after two minutes but Max Kruse levelled the scores just five minutes later with a smart finish.
With 10 minutes to go in the first half a freak own goal put the hosts ahead. Robert Andrich sent a back pass to his own goal without looking that goalkeeper Andreas Luthe was not close to. He slipped while trying to make up the ground but the ball thrashed into the net.
Silva laid in Kostic this time to add a third with his 21st of the season before Silva fired in a fourth just two minutes later. Kruse pulled one back with a brilliant looping header to end a chaotic first half.
Frankfurt managed the game second half and added some gloss to the scoreline with a fifth in added time from Timothy Chandler.
What it means
Adi Hütter’s side ended their three game winless run with a resounding victory. They are now four points above Borussia Dortmund with the two sides set to meet in the first game back after the international break.
Andre Silva has 21 goals for the season, a record for a Frankfurt player at this stage of a campaign.
André Silva’s 21 goals after 26 matchdays are a new record for a Frankfurt player 🦅
He’s also just five goals away from equalling Bernd Hölzenbein’s all-time single season club record from 1976/77 🤭 pic.twitter.com/mIJzzlhyPA
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) March 20, 2021
Union Berlin lost for the first time after a five game unbeaten run. They remain seventh in what has been a brilliant season for them.
Haaland scores brace but Dortmund drop points
Erling Haaland scored a last minute equaliser as Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 against FC Köln and dropped points in their bid for Champions League football next season.
The match
The Norwegian striker notched his 20th goal of the season in the third minute of the game. He controlled an Emre Can pass and burst past Jorge Mere before nutmegging goalkeeper Timo Horn at the near post.
Relegation-threatened Köln fought back and drew level with 10 minutes to go in the first half. After a VAR review, Jude Bellingham was adjudged to have handballed in the penalty area and Ondrej Duda converted from the spot.
Ismail Jacobs capitalised on Thomas Meunier’s mistake to fire an unstoppable strike at the near post of Marwin Hitz’s goal in the 65th minute.
The hosts then aimed to hold firm and secure a crucial three points. Haaland headed against the post with 10 minutes remaining but he got his brace when he used his predatory instincts to tap in from Ansgar Knauff’s excellent run and cross.
Erling Haaland is now the youngest player to ever score 34 Bundesliga goals 🌟🇳🇴
And he’s done it in just 36 games 😳 pic.twitter.com/HdiVd7aDiC
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) March 21, 2021
What it means
Dortmund are four points off Frankfurt in fourth after they dropped two points while Köln gained an unexpected point but have dropped into the bottom three after Mainz and Hertha Berlin both won. They are third bottom with 23 points – a point behind Mainz in 15th.
Featured image: Filip Kostic (R) of Frankfurt celebrates his team’s third goal with teammate Andre Silva during the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and 1. FC Union Berlin. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
