Points shared in Heidenheim | OneFootball

Eintracht recovered from a half-time deficit to claim a 1-1 draw at 1. FC Heidenheim, Rasmus Kristensen equalising in the 55th minute.

After the 120-minute cup drama against Borussia Dortmund in midweek, head coach Dino Toppmöller made three changes to his starting line-up. Elye Wahi made his first start since the match against Union Berlin in September, while Can Uzun and Ellyes Skhiri were also recalled. Jonny Burkardt, Farès Chaibi and Mario Götze made way and started on the bench. 

Uzun limps off  The Eagles began the game in dominant fashion but struggled to convert their superiority into clear goalscoring opportunities. Uzun was then forced off with an injury in the 26th minute, with Götze replacing him. Eintracht were hit on the counter for the opening goal in the 32nd minute, when Mathias Honsak passed to Arijon Ibrahimovic, who teed up Budu Zivzivadze. Michael Zetterer had no chance against the Georgian’s shot from six metres.   

Wahi misses equaliser At the end of the first half, Arthur Theate laid it on a plate for Wahi, but the forward didn’t connect with the ball properly from close range and squandered the opportunity to level the score before half-time. Skhiri unlucky  Frankfurt came out of the dressing room with all guns blazing and were cursing their luck when Skhiri’s header from Ritsu Doan’s corner hit the bar. 

Kristensen scores However, Rasmus Kristensen did better in the 55th minute, heading in his first goal of the season from Nathaniel Brown’s deft cross from the left to make it 1-1. The visitors were now clearly in the ascendancy and were also sharper in the challenges than Heidenheim. Hugo Larsson and Wahi both fired over the target, before Julian Niehues tested Zetterer at the other end. By now the Eagles also had a second recognised striker on the pitch in Burkardt.  

Chance for Burkardt And the second-best goalscorer in the current Bundesliga campaign was soon in the thick of the action: after 69 minutes, the Germany international’s deflected header hit the crossbar, then four minutes later, he set up an attempt for Ansgar Knauff. Theate then had the final opportunity to net a winner for Eintracht, but his strike was saved by ex-Eagle Diant Ramaj, equating to a share of the spoils at the Voith-Arena.