Newcomer Max Kruse and joker Dodi Lukebakio gave VfL Wolfsburg three important points in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga and put a severe damper on Eintracht Frankfurt’s international ambitions. At 2:0 (1:0), the striker, who came from 1. FC Union Berlin, gave the guests the lead with a penalty kick in the 28th minute in front of 10,000 spectators on Saturday.
Frankfurt/Main – Substitute Lukebakio (90+3) finally secured the second success in a row for Lower Saxony in injury time, who initially pulled away from the danger zone with 27 points. After the third home defeat in a row, the Hessians are still stuck in the middle of the table with 31 points.
Even without winger Filip Kostic, who initially only sat on the bench after recovering from illness, Eintracht started energetically and created a few opportunities in the early stages. First Kristijan Jakic was blocked at the last moment, then the midfielder only hit the side netting. At first there was little to see from Wolfsburg offensively. Only after a good 20 minutes did the Lower Saxony approach the Eintracht goal for the first time. However, Maxence Lacroix’s shot missed the target by two meters.
Then came the first excitement. Kruse was knocked down on the edge of the penalty area by Martin Hinteregger, who was standing in for the injured Frankfurt defender Makoto Hasebe. Referee Frank Willenborg initially gave a free kick, but the video cellar in Cologne switched on. According to the video images, there was a penalty, which Kruse coldly turned into the VfL lead.
Frankfurt seemed shocked for a few minutes, but then put a lot of pressure on towards the end of the first half. Jesper Lindström (41′) had a great chance to equalize after a fine solo, but he was denied by VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
After the change, the picture was the same. Eintracht made the game but couldn’t find a gap in Wolfsburg’s defence. Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner, who only came to the Main from Wolfsburg last summer, reacted and sent Kostic onto the pitch after just over an hour. Despite intensive efforts, the hosts did not have any great opportunities.
Rather, the guests repeatedly put fine pinpricks. Lukebakio (78′) initially missed the second goal by a few centimeters with a shot, which he then managed to score from a tight angle shortly before the end. Frankfurt ran wild in the final phase, but there was a lack of creative ideas. dpa
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