Haller on target late on as Frankfurt edge past Werder Bremen
Sebastien Haller scored an 89th-minute winner as Eintracht Frankfurt got the better of a battling Werder Bremen side on Matchday 11, the hosts eventually getting the reward for their second-half dominance.
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Rebic (17'), 1-1 Moisander (25'), 2-1 Haller (89')
Buoyed by the return of Makoto Hasebe in midfield, Frankfurt began well, knocking the ball about crisply against a remodelled Bremen back four. The hosts deservedly took the lead in the 17th minute, Ante Rebic curling an excellent finish past Jiri Pavlenka from the corner of the box. Bremen bit back soon after, however, Niklas Moisander making the most of indecisive Frankfurt defending to fire past Lukas Hradecky from a corner. Boosted by their first goal in over 500 minutes, the visitors ended the half on top, forcing Hradecky into several good saves before Max Kruse fired the away side's best chance over the bar just before the interval.
The momentum swung again after the interval, Eintracht taking the game by the scruff of the neck – and doing everything but finding the net. Kevin-Prince Boateng contrived to miss from close range in the 55th minute, before Jetro Willems spurned another presentable opportunity nine minutes later. The Eagles continued to push in the closing stages and, eventually, got their reward, Haller steering his fifth goal of the season from Taleb Tawatha's deep cross past Pavlenka and sending the home fans into delirium. For their part, Werder remain winless.
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Man of the match
Who else but Haller? His fifth goal of the season came with his first shot of the evening, but the Frenchman merits the honour for such a decisive intervention. He's now scored in four of Frankfurt's last five games, and is looking like one of the best signings of the summer.
Watch: Haller on Frankfurt's incredible team spirit!
Match stats
- Rebic has scored four goals in his last six games – twice as many as he managed in the whole of last season.Moisander's goal was his first in the Bundesliga after 36 games.The defender's goal was Werder's first for 508 minutes, a club low.Bartels' 150th Bundesliga appearance was also his 100th for Werder.Frankfurt are now unbeaten in their last 10 games on a Friday night.
Line-ups
Frankfurt: Hradecky - Salcedo, Abraham (c), Falette - Wolf, Hasebe, Stendera (Gacinovic 67'), Willems (Tawatha 79') - Boateng - Haller, Rebic (Jovic 76')
Coach: Niko Kovac
Bremen: Pavlenka - Gebre Selassie, Moisander, Veljkovic, Augustinsson (Belfodil 90') - Bargfrede (Kainz 67'), Delaney, M. Eggestein (Johannsson 90') - Junuzovic (c) - Bartels, Kruse
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt