After a dramatic last 16 second leg against Betis, Frankfurt are through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The Hessians had to go into extra time, were lucky there – and scored the decisive 1:1 with the last action of the game
Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner made no changes to his starting eleven after the 2:1 against VfL Bochum. Betis had bounced back from a 2-1 defeat in the first leg with a 1-0 win over Bilbao at the weekend. In the second leg in Frankfurt, coach Manuel Pellegrini sent on La Liga legend and captain Joaquin, among others, from the start to provide a scoring threat along with Fekir, Ruibal and Willian José.
Knauff’s shot hits the crossbar
The visitors from Sevilla started very bravely in the first minutes, but were unable to create any compelling goal-scoring chances at this stage. From around the tenth minute onwards, Frankfurt took control of the game and were the better team until the break. Knauff had the best, and at the same time only noteworthy chance in the first half, he put the ball against the crossbar, the guest keeper Rui Silva was even slightly on it (14th).
Otherwise, the Hessians could rely on a very secure defence, which allowed nothing at all against the Andalusians, who lacked ideas. Frankfurt had one or two opportunities up front, but either they didn’t finish the ball cleanly or the finish was not compelling enough. The game went into the dressing rooms goalless, with the visitors still under pressure.
Once again the SGE hit aluminium
After the break Betis started better again, Fekir provided the first shot on goal (56.). But as in the first half, Frankfurt came up better again – and had good chances to take the lead: Kostic did not hit the ball ideally when the goal was empty, a short time later a free kick of the Serbian, which nobody could reach, hit the left post (both 63.). The visitors were now a little more present up front, however, and substitute Juanmi forced Trapp into a good save with his head (65th).
Iglesias forces extra time
The Frankfurt side had the game well in hand and allowed nothing. Betis lacked ideas for a long time, but then set out again at the end to force extra time. And they succeeded! First, substitute Borja Iglesias shot over (87th), but in the 90th minute the striker did better: After Fekir’s cross, Borja Iglesias headed the ball into the goal and equalised.
With the last action: Eintracht moves into the quarter-finals
Betis were the better team in extra time, and the Andalusians had the only good chance at first: Lainez’s shot was deflected and ended up with Borja Iglesias, who headed the ball against the crossbar (109th). Frankfurt lacked ideas for a long time in extra time, but towards the end the Hessians got the second air.
