bundesliga

Milot Rashica snatches late draw from the penalty spot for Werder Bremen to deny Eintracht Frankfurt

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There was drama at the Commerzbank-Arena as Andre Silva looked to have given Eintracht Frankfurt victory before Milot Rashica's 91st minute penalty salvaged a 2-2 draw for Werder Bremen.

Frankfurt 2-2 Bremen
Goals: 0-1 Klaassen (27'), 1-1 Rode (55'), 2-1 Silva (89'), 2-2 Rashica pen.(90+1')

With just three points separating both sides at kick-off, an even contest was expected and duly delivered in Matchday 7’s final game of the weekend. Maximilian Eggestein’s fierce effort rattled Frankfurt’s post, before the woodwork was busy at the other end in denying Daichi Kamada a maiden Eintracht goal as his shot rebounded to safety off the crossbar, via Jiri Pavlenka. The framework was in action once more as Davy Klaassen gave Bremen the lead. Josh Sargent’s superb break saw his effort saved well before Leonardo Bittencourt’s first follow up smashed against the bar and his second was blocked into Klaassen’s path for the Dutchman to sweep home his second of the season.

In response, Die Adler flew out the traps in the second half and it took a stunning Pavlenka save to deny Goncalo Paciencia, who looked for all the money in the world to have levelled things up, but for the brilliance of the Werder keeper. It was looking like it wouldn't be Frankfurt's day, until Sebastian Rode let fly with a stunning volley from the edge of the area that flew beyond Pavlenka and levelled proceedings. Adi Hütter's side spent the majority of the remainder of the game camped in Bremen's half and finally broke the River Islanders' stubborn defence with Silva's predatory finish at the death. It looked to have given Frankfurt the win before Makoto Hasebe brought down Klaassen in the box a minute later. Rashica duly thundered the resulting penalty home to ensure both sides shared the points.

Andre Silva thought he had won the game for Eintracht Frankfurt when he scored in the 89th minute against Werder Bremen. - imago images/Jan Huebner

Match stats

  • Nine of Frankfurt's 12 goals this season have come in the second half of matches and they have now come from behind to pick up points in each of their past three home matches after victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf and a draw with Borussia Dortmund prior to facing Werder.
  • Rode's goal was his maiden Bundesliga strike for Frankfurt and first time he's been on the scoresheet in the league since netting in Borussia Dortmund's 6-0 win over Darmstadt on September 17, 2016.
  • Klaassen's opener was the first Frederik Rönnow has conceded in the Bundesliga in his third appearance and after 149 minutes of football.
  • Eintracht have scored at least once in every league game so far this season, while Werder have conceded at least once in every match.
  • This was the 99th Bundesliga meeting between the two sides, with Bremen (W42, D22, L35) boasting the better record. Frankfurt have also suffered more home defeats against Bremen (14) than against any other Bundesliga club.
  • Bremen have scored two goals in each of their four away games so far this season, while a league-high seven of their 14 goals conceded have been headers.

Line-ups

Frankfurt: Rönnow – Toure, Hasebe (c), Hinteregger – da Costa, Sow, Rode, Kostic – Kamada (Gacinovic 84') – Paciencia, Silva
Unused subs: Wiedwald, Ndicka, Fernandes, Joveljic, Abraham, Chandler, Durm, Kohr
Out: de Guzman (match fitness), Müller (ill), Russ (Achilles tendon), Trapp (shoulder)
Coach: Adi Hütter

Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Groß, Friedl – M. Eggestein, Sahin, Klaassen (c) (Lang 90+3') – Bittencourt (Bargfrede 84'), Rashica – Sargent (Goller 72')
Unused subs: Kapino, Pizarro, J. Eggestein, Ihorst
Out: Augustinsson (knee), Bartels (knee), Füllkrug (torn ACL), Langkamp (back), Möhwald (knee), Moisander (calf), Osako (thigh)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt