Defeat against Hoffenheim | OneFootball

Despite Arnaud Kalimuendo putting Eintracht 1-0 up at Deutsche Bank Park, the Eagles ultimately slipped to a 3-1 loss.

Three changes

Dennis Schmitt brought Aurèle Amenda, Farès Chaibi and Arnaud Kalimuendo into the starting line-up on Saturday, with Arthur Theate, Hugo Larsson and Ansgar Knauff all dropping to the bench. Kalimuendo breaks the deadlockThe Eagles produced a focused and committed performance from the outset and took the lead in the 18thminute when Can Uzun’s lofted pass sent Kalimuendo scurrying into the box. He got the better of Ozan Kabak before executing a composed finish into the bottom right-hand corner from 12 metres out. Eintracht ride their luck Kabak very nearly equalised just three minutes later following a corner with a close-range header that crashed off the left-hand post. Hoffenheim intensified their attacking efforts in search of an equaliser but, for the most part, the Eagles looked solid at the back. 

Santos impressesAsllani was involved again on the stroke of half-time as he crossed into the penalty area and found the unmarked Wouter Burger, whose header from six metres was well saved by Santos to preserve Eintracht’s 1-0 lead at the interval. Game of two halves Hoffenheim ruthlessly turned the match on its head in the second half though, as Eintracht’s grip on proceedings slipped. Burger was afforded time and space to charge down the left before floating a cross into the middle for Max Moerstedt to nod in just ahead of Santos (52’). 

Burger was the instigator once more as Hoffenheim took the lead. The Dutchman’s corner on the hour-mark was half-cleared straight back to him, and his delivery from the right was inch-perfect for Kabak to head the visitors in front from the edge of the six-yard box.  

Amenda own goalThe away side, currently third in the standings, were given too much space to link up and when Andrej Kramaric released Vladimir Coufal into the Eintracht box on the right, his attempted cross took a deflection off Aurèle Amenda and looped into the net (65’). 

As such, Schmitt’s charges went unrewarded for a good first-half display as they ultimately fell to a 3-1 defeat.