Oliver Burke hat-trick secures thrilling away win for Union Berlin over Eintracht Frankfurt
Union Berlin's Oliver Burke netted a hat-trick as the visitors secured a scintillating 4-3 away win against Eintracht Frankfurt, whose spirited late comeback fell just short in a seven-goal thriller.
Eintracht Frankfurt 3-4 Union Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Ansah 9', 0-2 Burke 32‘ (assist: Ilić), 1-2 Brown 45‘+4 (assist: Wahi), 1-3 Burke 53‘ (assist: Ilić), 1-4 Burke 56’ (assist: Ilić), 2-4 Uzun 80’, 3-4 Burkardt 87’ (pen.)
Red card: Baumgart 89’
Frankfurt came into the match looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season against Leverkusen on Matchday 3, having made a bright start to their campaign with two wins and eight goals in their opening three fixtures.
Union, meanwhile, had endured a challenging beginning to their season with just one win from three matches, conceding eight goals in the process – a negative record in their Bundesliga history.
Die Adler fielded their youngest starting XI in decades, with an average age of just 23.2 years, while Die Eisernen welcomed back Diogo Leite for his first Bundesliga appearance since April.
Ansah and Burke put Union in control
The game wasted no time to burst into life when Nathaniel Brown forced a smart save from Frederik Rønnow with a swerving effort from the edge of the area.
But it was the visitors who struck first in the ninth minute, as Ilyas Ansah punished hesitant Frankfurt defending by unleashing a stunning low drive from 25 yards that flew past Kauã Santos.
The hosts dominated possession but struggled to break down Union's disciplined defence, and were punished again just after the half-hour mark. Andrej Ilić demonstrated excellent strength to hold off several defenders before slipping in Burke, who outpaced Brown before calmly slotting past Santos to double Union's advantage.
Burke completes hat-trick as Union pull away
Frankfurt found a lifeline deep into first-half stoppage time when Brown cut inside and unleashed a shot that deflected off Can Uzun to wrong-foot Rønnow.
Any hope of a comeback was swiftly extinguished after the break, however, as Burke scored twice in three devastating minutes to complete his hat-trick. His second goal came in the 53rd minute after Ansah robbed Nnamdi Collins in midfield before finding Ilić, who delivered a pinpoint cross for Burke to head home at the far post.
The Scot wasn't finished there, adding his third just moments later with an exquisite chip over Santos following another assist from Ilić. At 4-1, Union appeared to be cruising to victory, prompting Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller to make a triple substitution, introducing Oscar Höjlund, Ansgar Knauff and Jonathan Burkardt in an attempt to salvage something from the match.
Frankfurt rally falls short in dramatic finale
The changes eventually had an impact as Frankfurt began to apply sustained pressure on the Union goal. Their persistence was rewarded in the 80th minute when a half-cleared cross fell to Uzun, who dispatched a clinical half-volley past Rønnow to reduce the deficit.
The momentum was now with the hosts, and they were handed a further lifeline seven minutes later when Leopold Querfeld fouled Burkardt in the box. The substitute confidently stepped up to convert the resulting penalty, smashing it down the middle to make it 4-3.
The final stages were chaotic, with Union coach Steffen Baumgart receiving two quick yellow cards and subsequent dismissal in the 89th minute. Despite 10 minutes of added time and relentless Frankfurt pressure, Union's defence held firm to secure a valuable away victory.
Player of the Match: Oliver Burke
The Scottish forward delivered a masterclass in clinical finishing with a sensational hat-trick that ultimately proved the difference between the teams.
Burke's pace and movement caused Frankfurt's defence problems throughout, clocking in a top speed of 35.17 km/h – the fastest of any player on the pitch.
His acceleration and composure were crucial in all three goals he scored, whilst the second also demonstrated his aerial ability, and the third his technical quality.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Frankfurt 2.02 - Union 1.88
Fastest player: Oliver Burke (Union), 35.17 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-1 by Ilyas Ansah (Union), 3 percent
Most pressed player: Can Uzun (Frankfurt), 32 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Can Uzun (Frankfurt), +3.32
Fantasy Heroes: Oliver Burke (Union, 513 Points), Can Uzun (Frankfurt, 344 Points), Nathaniel Brown (Frankfurt, 288 Points)
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