Burkardt brace gives Eagles win | OneFootball

Eintracht took maximum points against FC St. Pauli thanks to Burkardt’s double and a concentrated team performance.

Four changes Dino Toppmöller rotated his side in four positions for this one, bringing in Farès Chaibi, Ellyes Skhiri, Can Uzun and Jonathan Burkardt for Aurèle Amenda, Hugo Larsson, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya and Mario Götze, who all dropped to the bench.

The visitors began defensively in a 5-3-2 formation at Deutsche Bank Park as they tried to reduce the available space – which they did successfully for much for the first half. Eagles on the ball Eintracht soon seized the initiative and had over 60 percent possession in the first 45 minutes, but they struggled to carve out chances against a tightly packed rearguard. Can Uzun had a couple of sights of goal but his efforts were both blocked (8’, 32’). 

Burkardt breaks the deadlock Toppmöller’s side finally broke through in the 36th minute when Uzun received the ball in the penalty area and got the better of Manolis Saliakas. His cross appeared harmless and should have been dealt with by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, but it squirmed out of his grasp and allowed Burkardt to head Eintracht in front from close range, giving them a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Applying pressure The same 11 players began the second half, albeit with a far greater sense of purpose going forward. Uzun had another couple of efforts at goal after cutting in from the left and shooting with his stronger right foot (47’, 50’), but the first big chance of the half fell to Nathaniel Brown in between. Ansgar Knauff sprinted into space down the right and crossed into the middle for the freshly minted Germany international, but he was denied by a fine save from Vasilj. 

Burkardt makes it 2-0

The Eagles’ pressure eventually took its toll in the 56th minute when visiting defender Hauke Wahl misjudged Chaibi’s raking diagonal ball into the box. That allowed Burkardt to bring it down, hold off Wahl and prod the ball in from close range. 

The visitors could have pulled a goal back in the closing stages but Oladpo Afolayan and Connor Metcalfe both missed the target (78’). As such, Eintracht were able to see the result through to the final whistle to claim an important and deserved victory.