Eintracht Frankfurt's clinical edge sinks wasteful Hamburg in DFB Cup second round
Eintracht Frankfurt earned a 3-1 win at Hamburg in the DFB Cup second round on Tuesday, with Robin Koch, Jonathan Burkardt and Younes Ebnoutalib on target at the Eagles booked their place in the last 16.
Hamburg 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 0-1 Koch 56’ (assist: Burkardt), 0-2 Burkardt 71’ (assist: Götze), 0-3 Ebnoutalib 75’ (assist: Chaïbi), 1-3 Moffi 79'
Hamburg made four changes from their 1-0 defeat in Paderborn, with injuries ruling out Yussuf Poulsen Fábio Vieira and Bilal Nadir, while Daniel Heuer Fernandes dropped to the bench for Sander Tangvik.
Frankfurt made three changes of their own from their narrow loss at Dortmund, with Mario Götze, Jeremiaha Maluze and Can Uzun coming into the starting eleven.
Chances squandered before the break
Hamburg created the better openings of an even first half. Terem Moffi headed over from close range inside the first ten minutes, Zakaria El Ouahdi forced a save over the bar on 24 minutes, and Albert Grønbæk twice came close, first shooting wide from a tight angle and later seeing an effort drift narrowly off target.
Nnamdi Collins and Götze were both booked for the visitors as Frankfurt struggled to find a foothold, and the two sides went in level at the break.
Koch breaks the deadlock
Hamburg made a change at the interval, sending on Jason Bissi-Mouelle for Sebastiaan Bornauw. The breakthrough came on 56 minutes when Uzun's cross into the box found Burkardt, who headed the ball into the path of Koch. The Frankfurt captain prodded home from close range to make it 1-0. Moffi then headed a free chance wide at the back post as Hamburg searched for an immediate response.
Frankfurt doubled their lead on 71 minutes when Götze picked out Burkardt, who steadied himself inside the area before slotting past Tangvik. Moments later, Hütter made a double change, sending on Younes Ebnoutalib and Noëll Aséko for Burkardt and Götze. Within seconds of arriving, Ebnoutalib turned away from his marker and fired into the roof of the net to make it 3-0 on 75 minutes.
Moffi gives Hamburg late hope
Hamburg pulled a goal back on 79 minutes when Patson Daka shot from the right of the box, the ball spilling from Noah Atubolu straight into the path of Moffi, who tapped in from close range to make it 3-1.
Uzun struck the crossbar from a free-kick soon after, and Martin Adeline fired wide and saw Atubolu save another effort from Daka in stoppage time as Hamburg pushed for a way back, but the visitors held on to seal their place in the last 16.
DFB Cup Match Facts
xGoals: Hamburg 3.05 - Frankfurt 1.79
Fastest player: Møller Wolfe (Hamburg), 33.38 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-3 by Ebnoutalib (Frankfurt), 20 per cent
Pass efficiency: Doan (Frankfurt), +2.77
