Last-gasp Luka Jovic penalty earns Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 win at Schalke
Eintracht Frankfurt consolidated fourth place in the Bundesliga with a last-gasp Luka Jovic penalty earning them a 2-1 win at Schalke.
Schalke 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Rebic (13'), 1-1 Serdar (21'), 1-2 Jovic (pen. 90+9')
Red card: Serdar (90+4')
A Frankfurt side oozing confidence took a deserved lead when Filip Kostic's pass sliced through the Schalke defence and found Rebic, who still had work to do as he waltzed round Alexander Nübel before tucking the ball into an unguarded net. Indicative of Frankfurt's soaring confidence levels was an attempt by Martin Hinteregger to lob Nübel from the halfway line, the Schalke custodian only just managing to scramble back to turn the ball behind. Out of nowhere, Schalke found an equaliser through Suat Serdar, who shot through the legs of Kevin Trapp after the Frankfurt goalkeeper could only parry Breel Embolo's strike, and the goal gave the hosts confidence as they ended the first half the stronger.
That may have been the reason why Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter sent Goncalo Paciencia on at the start of the second half, and he soon brought a save out of Nübel as the guests again started brightly. Nübel's quick reactions helped him spare Daniel Caligiuri's blushes as the Schalke midfielder almost scored an own goal. Meanwhile, Paciencia was playing like he had a point to prove, testing the Royal Blues rearguard which was only just holding firm. A red card to Serdar deep into stoppage time was then followed by a penalty for Frankfurt, awarded after Video Assist was consulted to confirm a handball by Caligiuri, and Jovic stepped up to earn the Eagles their sixth straight Bundesliga win.
Match stats
- David Abraham was back in the Frankfurt starting XI for the first time since Matchday 19, and he made his 100th Bundesliga appearance for the Eagles.
- Rebic has scored more goals this season (nine) than in his first two Bundesliga seasons put together (eight).
- Serdar has scored as many goals in his past two games (two) as he did in all his first 65 Bundesliga appearances.
- Despite coming on only at half time, Paciencia had as many shots (five) as the entire Schalke team managed over the full 90 minutes.
- Frankfurt have now won six Bundesliga games in a row for the first time this century - it’s the club’s longest winning streak in over 25 years.
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Line-ups
Schalke: Nübel – Stambouli (c), Bruma, Nastasic – Mascarell – Caligiuri, Serdar, Oczipka – Boujellab (Rudy 79') – Burgstaller, Embolo (Kutucu 66')
Unused subs: Langer, Matondo, Harit, Carls, Timotheou
Out: Bentaleb (groin), McKennie (ankle), Schöpf (knee), Skrzybski (thigh), Uth (thigh)
Coach: Huub Stevens
Frankfurt: Trapp – Abraham, Hasebe, Hinteregger (N'Dicka 38') – Da Costa, Fernandes (c), De Guzman (Paciencia 46'), Kostic – Willems – Rebic, Jovic
Unused subs: Rönnow, Falette, Torro, Hrgota, Silva Melo
Out: Chandler (knee), Gacinovic (heel), Haller (abdominal strain), Tawatha (muscular)
Coach: Adi Hütter
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