EAGLES SOAR - AGAIN
Munich - Eintracht Frankfurt made it two Bundesliga wins from two with a comprehensive 4-0 win over nine-man 1899 Hoffenheim.
Mountain to climb
Two-down at the break, Hoffenheim ended the game with just nine men after Sejad Salihovic and Stephan Schröck saw red for two bookable offenses in a barmy three-minute spell, before Meier and Martin Lanig added salt into the wound with goals three and four.
Chasing their first win of the campaign, 1899 Hoffenheim started the brighter of the two, with Boris Vukcevic almost profiting from a breakdown in communication in the Frankfurt rearguard. The home side were moving the ball freely, but Kevin Volland was unable to make the most of Roberto Firmino's slide-rule pass when through on goal.
However, with the hosts looking increasingly uneasy defensively, Tim Wiese was rather fortunate to see his initial parry drop wide of the post after cannoning back off Olivier Occean. The warning signs were clear to see, and Hoffenheim's back four duly buckled as Alex Meier's 18-yard strike flew in off Marvin Compper in the 38th minute, before Pirmin Schwegler's swerving drive made it 2-0 four minutes later.
Red mist
'Deflated' best described the mood amongst the Hoffenheim players as Eintracht hit cruise control in their quest for a third goal after the break, with Tobias Weis picking up a deserved booking after taking a frustrated swipe at Sebastian Rode in the 55th minute. Meier should have made it three on the hour-mark, but lashed wide.
A bad afternoon got worse for the home side when substitute Salihovic - on the pitch for just four minutes - and Schröck received their marching orders for two bookable offences in the 70th and 73rd minute respectively. Meier got on the score sheet from the spot with eight minutes remaining, before substitute Martin Lanig made it four with virtually the last kick of the game.
Christopher Mayer-Lodge
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