bundesliga

Eintracht Frankfurt strike back to deny Jürgen Klinsmann first Hertha Berlin win

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Jürgen Klinsmann was denied a first win in charge of Hertha Berlin after Eintracht Frankfurt came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw on Friday night.

Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Lukebakio (30'), 0-2 Grujic (63’), 1-2 Hinteregger (65’), 2-2 Rode (86')

Davie Selke had a golden chance to put Klinsmann’s side ahead when he peeled off to receive Ondrej Duda’s chip into the box but put it wide. The linesman’s flag may have saved him some embarrassment but it would’ve stood on review. Almamy Toure then tested Thomas Kraft at the other end before Marko Grujic’s pass into the path of Dodi Lukebakio, who tucked it under Frederik Rönnow after a great run to give the Old Lady a first lead under the former Germany and USA coach with their first effort on goal. The hosts thought they’d equalised before the break when Goncalo Paciencia dummied Filip Kostic’s low cross from the left for Daichi Kamada to tuck home, but a VAR check spotted a foul by the Serbian in the build-up and ruled out the goal.

The Berliners doubled their lead just after the hour mark, again with their first effort of the half, when Marvin Plattenhardt’s free-kick was headed down by Dedryck Boyata for Grujic to tap home, but the hosts immediately struck back through defender Martin Hinteregger, diverting a Toure header beyond Kraft. The former Bayern Munich goalkeeper was spared his blushes not long after, though, when he parried the ball into his own net, but was nudged in the back by Andre Silva and the goal a Frankfurt goal was ruled out again. Kraft made an impressive stop from Danny da Costa as Eintracht cranked up the pressure in the closing minutes. Toure almost turned a parried effort in at the far post but the hosts weren't to be denied again after Hinteregger flicked on a corner to Sebastian Rode at the far post to earn his side a draw. The point ends three-match losing runs for both teams.

Match stats

  • Lukebakio has scored 10 of his 14 career Bundesliga goals, and three of his four for Hertha, away from home.
  • Hinteregger is the most prolific defender in the Bundesliga this season. His five goals are already a personal best for a single campaign, of which four have come from corners.
  • Three of Rode's last six Bundesliga goals have been as a substitute.
  • Frankfurt have now only won one of their last 11 Bundesliga games against Hertha (D6, L4).
  • That record at home has now stretched to six without a win (D5, L1), which is currently Eintracht’s longest winless run at home to any team in the Bundesliga.
  • The Eagles had 27 efforts on goal in the 90 minutes, which was the most they'd managed in a Bundesliga game this season.

Watch: Klinsmann: "The players feel something is growing here"

Line-ups

Frankfurt: Rönnow – Toure, Hasebe (c), Hinteregger – da Costa, Sow, Fernandes (Rode 62’), Kostic – Kamada – Silva (Joveljic 84’), Paciencia
Unused subs: Wiedwald, Ndicka, Torro, Chandler, Durm, Stendera, Cetin
Out: Abraham (suspended), Dost (groin), Gacinovic (groin), Kohr (suspended), Russ (Achilles tendon), Trapp (shoulder)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Hertha: Kraft – Stark (c) (Mittelstädt 79’), Boyata, Rekik – Klünter, Darida, Grujic, Plattenhardt – Duda (Löwen 49’) – Selke, Lukebakio (Wolf 79’)
Unused subs: Smarsch, Torunarigha, Kalou, Dilrosun, Köpke, Ibisevic
Out: Jarstein (suspended), Leckie (knee)
Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann

Watch: Grujic: "Klinsmann and staff are amazing"